Talent, family genetics help Marquette star earn BND Player of the Year honor
Alton Marquette coach Lee Green had heard the talk and knew all about the Snipes’ rich family tradition of excellence on the basketball court.
It didn’t take Green long to see all that hype surrounding incoming freshman Adrenna Snipes was true. Every single word. The niece of Alton High School basketball legend Cathy Snipes was that good.
“The minute Adrenna walked on campus she was the best player in our program hands down,” Green said. “I wasn’t surprised. I knew who she was and what she could do through her AAU coach and some of her teammates parents.
“Adrenna’s basketball background comes from her Aunt Cathy (Snipes). Cathy has coached her as a youth and been there for Adrenna her whole life on and off the court. Cathy loves basketball so much and has really been a huge influence on Adrenna.”
Little of what the 5-5 Snipes has done in her first two seasons in an Explorers uniform has been short of sensational.
After averaging 18 points, five rebounds and nearly six steals as a freshman for a Marquette team which finished 21-10 a year ago, Snipes was even better during the 2019-20 season.
Despite facing gimmick defenses designed specifically to slow her down on a nightly basis, Snipes led the entire metro-east area in scoring (20.6 ppg), while pulling down nearly seven rebounds and adding four assists and 5.6 steals per outing.
With the help of teammate Abby Williams, Snipes led Marquette to a 24-7 season and was voted as the Belleville News-Democrat Class 1A-2A Player of the Year.
“Am I surprised at the success I’ve had? Yes, I am. It’s because I have good teammates and I have great coaches, and most of all, my aunt Cathy always talks to me about the game of basketball,” Snipes said. “Where I grew up there was really nothing else to do but play basketball. Growing up I also always hung around my aunt Cathy and she is all about basketball so I got the idea from her to (play).’’
Cathy Snipes has set a great example for her 16-year-old niece both on and off the basketball court. As a player, Snipes holds the Alton record for career points with over 2,600 while grabbing 1,600 career rebounds. An ’85 graduate of AHS, Snipes averaged over 34 points a game as a senior when she was a first-team all-state selection.
Still with two years remaining in her high school career, Adrenna Snipes has over 1,150 points.
Versatile player, leader
But a true leader both on and off the court, Snipes is more than just a scorer. The Explorers point guard has the ability to step out and hit the 3-point jumper. But she is at her best off the dribble and attacking the basket.
“I like to break a player down and go to the hoop and I also like to play defense,” Snipes said. “I love the feeling when I steal the ball from the opposite team and get to the rim.
“I think I defend well and I like being the point guard because I like to get my other teammates involved. I really need to be a better leader and talk. I want to become the best leader possible, whether it’s talking to them about plays or things we need to do better.”
Regional performance harboring of things to come
Snipes has done most things well in her first two years in the Explorers program. Proving she can take her game to another level, Snipes career-best 40-point effort in her postseason debut a year ago in a come-from-behind win over Staunton is just one many fond memories.
“Her freshman year there were several situations that I was like ‘WOW she is unreal.’ When she scored 40 in her first regional game, I was just in awe,” Green said. “Just like every great player there are some things that need to be better and with Adrenna she needs to get better with her left hand and 3-point shooting. She will be better with those next year because she’s a tireless worker.
“She is a great teammate, very easy to coach and all the girls love her. Adrenna is a great kid who works very hard in the classroom.”
Snipes, like most talented high school players, dreams of playing college basketball.
“I really don’t know which college I want to attend; I am striving for a D1 university,’’ Snipes said.
Snipes had one final person she wanted to thank.
“I would like to thank my cousin Eric Snipes who is one of my biggest supporters. He was and still is with me to give me pointers and a big reason of why I am where I am today,” she said.
Belleville News-Democrat Girls Class 1A-2A All-Area Basketball Team
Player of the Year
Adrenna Snipes, Marquette, soph. (20.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.8 assists, 5.65 steals)
Coaches of the Year
Michelle Hasheider-Burianek, Okawville; and Jeff Oller, Father McGivney
First Team
Molly Diekemper, Carlyle, sr. (17.8 ppg, 7.6 ppg)
Madison Webb, Father McGivney, sr. (15.0, ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3 steals)
Shannon Lampe, Mater Dei, sr. (12.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.6 assists, 3.4 steals)
Alyssa Cole, Nashville, soph. (13.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Bree Portz, Marissa, soph. (17.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.2 steals)
Second Team
Chloe Book, Central, jr. (8.8 ppg)
Maddy Schwemmer, Freeburg, soph. (10.3 ppg)
Claire Tonnies, Mater Dei, sr. (13 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Sabrina Kollbaum, Nashville, sr. (11.1, ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.1 assists)
Briley Rhodes, Okawville, frosh. (12.6 ppg)
Honorable Mention
Anaya Davis, Althoff; Maddie Davis, Gibault; Ellie Eichenlaub, Freeburg; Claire Grohman, Red Bud; Mckenzie Hancock, Wesclin; Octavia Heidelberg, Dupo; Taylor Holten, Columbia; Macy Hoppes, Father McGivney; Karsen Jany, Columbia; Haley Kimes, Freeburg; Kylie Kisgen, Freeburg; Rylee Luechtefeld, Nashville; Charlize Luehmann, Father McGivney; Anna McKee, Father McGivney; Haley Ottenschnieder, Central; Nariah Parks, Althoff; Megan Rennegarbe, Okawville; Emily Smith, Marissa; Madi Strieker, Mater Dei; Sydney Tebbe, Okawville; Miah Weems, Central; Ashlyn Wightman, Gibault; Danika White, New Athens; Abby Williams, Marquette
