April 23, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
DCHS Junior Basketball Star Ella VanVranken received a special honor during Saturday night’s team awards banquet at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center.
VanVranken, the 2022-23 Love-Cantrell Funeral Home Allen D. Hooper Memorial Most Valuable Player on the Lady Tiger team and latest member of the DCHS Basketball 1,000-point club, was presented a resolution by State Representative Michael Hale recently adopted by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed by the Governor honoring her for having scored more than 1,000 points for her career.
Ella scored her 1,000th career point on December 21,2022 in a holiday tournament between the Lady Tigers and Ezell Harding at Wilson County High School in Lebanon leading the team in scoring with 26 points that day in a 56 to 51 victory for DeKalb County.
In making the presentation, State Representative Hale read from the resolution as follows:
“A RESOLUTION to honor and congratulate Ella VanVranken of DeKalb County High School on scoring her 1,000th point in varsity basketball.
WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should recognize those incredibly successful student athletes who have attained significant milestones in their careers; and
WHEREAS, junior Ella VanVranken of DeKalb County High School recently scored her 1,000th career point, reaching that incredible milestone in just three seasons, something that most players can only dream of attaining in four years; and
WHEREAS, the daughter of Zach and Kristen VanVranken, Ella has already enjoyed a storied basketball career at DeKalb County High School, winning Freshman of the Year and All District 3rd Team honors her freshman year and All District 2nd Team honors, the DTC Award, and Offensive MVP after her sophomore campaign; and
WHEREAS, during her freshman season, she recorded 367 points, 123 rebounds, 33 assists, and 60 steals and tallied 427 points, 158 rebounds, 67 assists, and 70 steals during her sophomore season; and
WHEREAS, a player who leads by example, Ms. VanVranken joined the 1,000 point club on December 21, 2022, against Ezell-Harding, scoring 26 points; she has already accumulated 346 points, 67 rebounds, 47 assists, and 34 steals so far this season; and
WHEREAS, Ella VanVranken has now claimed her rightful place among the most elite basketball players in DeKalb County High School history; and
WHEREAS, Ms. VanVranken exemplifies the spirit, determination, and perseverance for which Tennesseans are notable, and she is richly deserving of our approbation on this special occasion; now,
Therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we honor and congratulate Ella VanVranken of DeKalb County High School on scoring her 1,000th point in varsity basketball and wish her all the best in her future endeavors, both on and off the court”.