Warren’s Emma Ruhlman has been named to her third straight Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 5A all-state girls high school basketball team. Times Observer File Photo

Warren Area High School senior standout Emma Ruhlman is ready to take on Division II college basketball for Hillsdale College in Michigan.

First, Ruhlman has been named to her third straight Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 5A all-state girls high school basketball team. She made the all-state third team as a sophomore and junior and the second team for this past winter after being named the Region 6 Player of the Year. She averaged 15.6 points a game and, along with senior point guard Riley Childress, led the Lady Dragons to their third District 10 5A championship in four years.

Warren averaged 20 wins a season in Ruhlman’s four years – all under her head coach and mom, Lisa LaVan, and Emma finished her high school career second all-time in scoring at WAHS with 1,448 points along with nearly 900 rebounds.

“Emma is the ‘poster child’ of what it takes to be the best at your craft,” said LaVan, who has two more daughters on the team, including junior Gracie Ruhlman and sophomore Sammie Ruhlman. She also coached Childress all four years, and the Dragons’ only other senior finished her high school career with 1,341 career points (fifth all-time) and will play at D2 Roberts Wesleyan beginning in the fall.

“Early-morning workouts when your competition is still sleeping,” said LaVan of her eldest daughter, Emma. “After-practice shooting when your legs are tired, and you just want to go home. Getting in that extra lift so you don’t lose your strength, conditioning. Studying film of yourself and your opponent so you can be ready for the next game. Emma has had to work for everything she has gotten. It has all come with hard work, dedication, and a true love for the process.”

Ruhlman was one of 10 voted to the Pennsylvania Sports Writers all-state girls basketball teams. Villa Maria’s Carissa Dunham and Jayden McBride were both named to the second team in Class 4A. Fairview all-time scorer, junior Hope Garrity, the Region 3 co-player of the year, was named to the Class 3A second team. Lakeview 1,000-point scorer Reese Gadsby, the Region 4 player of the year, was named to the 3A third team. West Middlesex senior teammates Emily Anthony and Carlie Beatty were named to the Class 2A third team. Kennedy Catholic senior Bellah DiNardo claimed her second all-state selection, a Class 1A first-team all-state nod. Kennedy Catholic freshman teammate Layke Fields was named to the 1A second team, and Farrell senior Sanaa Brodie was named to the 1A third team.

“It feels great and it’s a great accomplishment to cap off my high school career,” said Ruhlman. “To make all-state three years in a row is awesome and really goes to show how hard I have worked the past four years. I’m so thankful for my teammates and coaches because I couldn’t do it without them. I can’t wait for the great things that lie ahead of me in terms of my basketball career.”