Mapang named conference defensive player of the year; Neves lands on third team

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-Antwain Scales didn't get any votes for conference coach of the year. But he should have.

Playing shorthanded and with different lineups all year, the Broncbusters remained in the top four in the standings for most of the season. They also produced two all-conference players with Britney Mapang earning defensive player of the year honors and Kealani Neves landing on the third team. 

Mapang, who became the second Broncbuster in the past three seasons to win defensive player of the year joining Donetria McGee in 2019-20, was arguably Scales' best perimeter defender. And while the numbers fail to tell the entire story, the sophomore's body of work spoke for itself.  

The only reason Neves didn't grab a spot on the first or second team was availability. Still, despite missing four games with a concussion, the sophomore led the team in scoring at 12 points per game. She reached double figures in 21 contests and poured in 20 or more four times including a season-best 26 points in a road win at Colby on Jan. 29.