HHS' Dawson takes home the Ostrowski Award

27 Mar 2016 by Bryan Courts

HUNTINGTON – Huntington High junior forward Jordyn Dawson brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “letting her play do her talking.”

Dawson is quiet by nature, but especially when asked to speak on her own accomplishments or abilities on the basketball floor.

That’s OK, though, because her play speaks volumes and people are quick to heap accolades on the talented 5-foot, 10-inch, do-it-all standout.

Such accolades include being named as the 2015-16 Ostrowski Award winner presented to West Virginia’s top girls basketball player by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

“She doesn’t like to talk about it, and honestly, I don’t think she knows how good she really is,” Huntington High coach Lonnie Lucas said. “When she decides to flip that switch, she can go to another level that other players simply can’t get to.”

Dawson averaged 20.1 points, 13.2 rebounds and 7.3 steals per game through the regular season, but showed how she can elevate her game to a higher level in the state tournament in leading the Highlanders to the Class AAA championship game where they fell to three-time champ Morgantown.

In a quarterfinal win over Buckhannon-Upshur, Dawson announced her presence to the state with a 33-point effort on 16-of-22 shooting while also contributing eight rebounds and eight steals.

After a 16-point effort in a semifinal win over George Washington, Dawson had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the championship loss to Morgantown. Foul trouble sent her to the bench for the final 11 minutes of the first half, but she scored all 11 of the Highlanders’ points in the frame before giving Huntington High the lead in the fourth with an offensive rebound and putback.

Morgantown rallied to win, but Dawson left quite the impression on opposing head coach Jason White.

“Jordyn Dawson is a phenomenal player. …,” White said.

Dawson’s size plus athleticism made her a nightmare for the opposition to guard.

The versatile 5-foot-10 wing/forward is too big and strong for guards to cover, but too quick and athletic for post players to guard on the perimeter.

The end result of the mismatch was Dawson shooting better than 50 percent for the season.

One of the factors in her success is the presence of her brothers, John and Mikal, who are also successful high school basketball players.

John – Jordyn’s twin – is a guard for Class A boys state champion Huntington St. Joe and Mikal – a sophomore – was on Huntington High’s team that finished as the Class AAA runner-up.

“I think that helps her because it’s like a competition between them,” Lucas said. “She’s not going to let those boys get the best of her.”

Dawson headlined a talented field for the Ostrowski Award that included South Charleston junior standout Aaliyah Dunham, Wyoming East sophomore guard Gabby Lupardus and Lincoln junior Hope Bray.

The best news for the state is all of the top players return for the 2016-17 season.

The Ostrowski Award is named for Mary Ostrowski – also nicknamed ‘Mary O’. Ostrowski was a standout at Parkersburg Catholic from 1978-80. She was the first female winner of the Russell A. Thom Award, which was previously given to the state’s top basketball player. Ostrowski won the award three consecutive years before moving on to the University of Tennessee where she played for Pat Summitt and helped lead the Volunteers to the NCAA Final Four in 1981, 1982 and 1984.

Ostrowski also played for the U.S. National Team from 1981-83, earning a gold medal at the 1983 World University Games.

Dawson will be presented with the 2015-16 Ostrowski Award at the 70th Victory Awards Dinner at 4 p.m., Mary 15, in the Charleston Civic Center. Tickets for the banquet are available from The Herald-Dispatch sports department.

By GRANT TRAYLOR