Calera&8217;s Shanavia Dowdell rounded out her high school trophy case last Wednesday at the annual Alabama Sports Writers Association annual player of the year banquet.

Dowdell was named Miss Basketball 2006 by the ASWA for the state of Alabama and was also crowned the 2A girls&8217; player of the year.

&8220;I was really excited,&8221; Dowdell said of winning the award. &8220;This was my fifth time up here so I wanted to come away with something.&8221;

Dowdell has been nominated for the award following every year that she has been eligible, leaving little doubt in her senior year that she deserved the honor.

As one of the Lady Eagles&8217; most prevalent players in school history, Dowdell finished her final year averaging 24.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 10 assists per game. She helped lead Calera to a 22-8 record and the Class 2A quarterfinals this season.

&8220;Words cannot describe what Shanavia has meant to this team,&8221; Calera head coach James Knowles said. &8220;She&8217;s a tremendous player and a tremendous person.&8221;

For her career, Dowdell finished with 3,447 rebounds and 1,621 rebounds. The point total was the seventh best in AHSAA girls&8217; basketball history.

She has signed on to play basketball at Division one women&8217;s basketball powerhouse Louisiana Tech next season.

&8220;The things that she did while she was here are just amazing,&8221; Knowles said. &8220;Her leadership was tremendous.&8221;