URBANA — A season's worth of dedication and hard work by Uni basketball players received its due Monday night as players, coaches, and parents gathered at Uni Gym for the annual winter athletic awards ceremony.

Senior Rachel Skoza goes for the ball against DeLand-Weldon. She surpassed 1,000 career points this year and was named team MVP. Gargoyle photos by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

Junior Dan Lilly pulls up for a shot against Judah Christian. Lilly was MVP this season. At left is sophomore center Warren Skoza, who led Uni in rebounds. (click to enlarge)

Individual awards went to members of the junior varsity and varsity. Senior Rachel Skoza won the most valuable player award for the girls varsity, while junior Dan Lilly won varsity MVP honors for the boys.

Skoza finished her Uni career with 1,126 career points, putting her fourth on the school's all-time list of female scorers:

• Sophia Neely (1982-86): 1,967 (24.5 ppg)
• Amanda Smeltzer (1993-97): 1,272 (15.0 ppg)
• Lis Pollock (1995-99): 1,152 (14.0 ppg)
• Rachel Skoza (2005-09): 1,126 (12.2 ppg)
• Molly Smith (2001-05): 1,028 (11.4 ppg)

According to The News-Gazette's most recent leader board, Skoza finished ninth in the area in scoring average (15.4 ppg, 370 total), and 15th in rebounds per game (8.9, 214 total).

Lilly broke several single-season records for the boys this year. He set a season record for most points with 483, breaking Tim Monahan's mark of 482 set in 1994-95.

He also broke Mike Renner's 2006-07 season record for most three-pointers (61) by hitting 67. His average of 20.1 ppg ranks fifth in the area, and he is fourth in steals with 3.2 per game.

Coaching the girls this year were Rebecca Murphy (varsity head coach), Jeff Blue (JV head coach), Morgan Reeder (subfreshman head coach), Rachel Havey (JV assistant coach), and Caroline Harless (JV assistant coach).

Coaching the boys were Joel Beesley (varsity head coach), Ben Kramer (assistant coach/JV head coach), Rick Murphy (subfreshman head coach), Louis DeCosmo (assistant coach/JV assistant coach), Jake Kalnitz (volunteer varsity assistant coach), Adam Tiouririne (student assistant), Daniel Borup (student assistant), Jason He (student assistant), and Sol Robinson (student assistant).

The girls varsity finished 16-9 overall, 9-3 in the ECIC (tied for second place with Judah Christian). The boys varsity went 16-8 overall, 10-2 in the ECIC (tied for first place with Normal Calvary Baptist).

Girls Basketball Awards

JUNIOR VARSITY

• Most Improved: sophomore Martha Yoshida (visiting student)
• Most Dedicated: sophomore Heather Lin
• Most Intense: junior Rachel Harmon
• Best Defender: Rachel Harmon

JV/VARSITY

• Tough Illinek: sophomore Emma Coverdill

VARSITY

• Most Valuable Player: senior Rachel Skoza
• Most Improved: Rachel Harmon
• Most Dedicated: freshman Jamie Blue
• Most Points: Jamie Blue (408, 16.3 pg)
• Most Rebounds: Jamie Blue (221, 8.8 pg)
• Highest Free Throw Percentage: senior Jessi Sullivan (80 percent, 36 of 45)
• Most Steals: Jamie Blue (83, 3.3 pg)
• Most Assists: Jamie Blue (100, 4.0 pg)
• Outstanding Defender: junior Michelle Wong

Boys Basketball Awards

JUNIOR VARSITY

• Most Valuable Player: freshman Brandon Lin
• Outstanding Defender: sophomore Seth Bull
• Most Improved: freshman John Hadley Jr.
• Sportsmanship: junior Ben Lee
• Outstanding Rebounder: Brandon Lin
• Mr. Enthusiasm: freshman Joey Smith

VARSITY

• Most Valuable Player: junior Dan Lilly
• Most Assists: senior Malcolm Taylor (69, 2.9 pg)
• Most Rebounds: sophomore Warren Skoza (151, 6.3 pg)
• Top Free Throw Percentage: Dan Lilly (81.4 percent, 92 of 113)
• Most Steals: Dan Lilly (76, 3.2 pg)
• Most Improved: Warren Skoza
• Outstanding Defender: junior Costa Cangellaris
• Mr. Hustle: senior Alan Kessler
• Tough Illinek: junior Neil Pearson
• Tony Khan Dedication Award: senior Daniel Borup and senior Adam Tiouririne