The leading scorer among all the girls basketball players in the Metro area does not play for one of the big Mississippi Valley Conference schools.

In fact, she plays for one of the smallest schools in the state.

Shelby Hembera, a slender 6-foot sophomore, leads the Metro in scoring at the holiday break with a 19.7 average for Cedar Valley Christian.

Hembera ranks second in Class 1A in scoring and is seventh overall in the state, according to the IGHSAU.

Hembera is also tied for the rebounding lead in the Metro at 9.8 per game. She shares the top spot with Michalyn Mohr of Marion High School.

Dani Franklin and Abby Herb, a pair of strong players for the Washington Warriors, rank second and third in the Metro in scoring. Franklin is scoring at a 16.3 clip and Herb is right behind at 15.8.

Mohr is enjoying a strong season at Marion and is averaging 13.9 points with her 9.8 rebounds. Maddie Koolbeck, an all-state player for Jefferson last season, is fifth in the Metro in scoring at 12.0 points per game.

Franklin ranks third in rebounding at 8.8 per game. Sara Strauel of Linn-Mar is fourth at 7.3 rebounds and Herb is fifth at 6.6.

Washington has the best record in the Metro at the holiday break at 7-2, followed by Prairie (7-3), Kennedy (5-2), Xavier (6-4) and Marion (5-4) with winning marks. Linn-Mar (4-6), Jefferson (3-7) and Cedar Valley Christian (1-5) hope to make a strong push after the holidays.

SCORING

1. Shelby Hembera, Cedar Valley, 19.7
2. Dani Franklin, Washington, 16.3
3. Abby Herb, Washington, 15.8
4. Michalyn Mohr, Marion, 13.9
5. Maddie Koolbeck, Jefferson, 12.0
6. Courteney McCrary, Prairie, 11.4
7. Beth Knapp, Marion, 11.4
8. Madison Dellamuth, Prairie, 11.3
9. Alisa Weiland, Prairie, 10.3
10. Sara Strauel, Linn-Mar, 10.3

REBOUNDING

1. Shelby Hembera, Cedar Valley, 9.8
2. Michalyn Mohr, Marion, 9.8
3. Dani Franklin, Washington, 8.8
4. Sara Strauel, Linn-Mar, 7.3
5. Abby Herb, Washington, 6.6
6. Ashley Stulken, Xavier, 6.5
7. Rachel Broghammer, Jefferson, 6.3
8. Amanda Ollinger, Jefferson, 6.0
9. Madi Meier, Kennedy, 5.9
10. Cyerra Hutchins, Prairie, 5.8