For four years, Malia Rodgers enjoyed a successful basketball career at Montgomery County High School, winning two all-state awards and becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer.

Last winter, the 2024 MCHS graduate carried that success to the State Fair Community College women’s basketball team. She was one of the Roadrunners’ top scorers at 12 points per game, earned all-region honors and helped her team earn its first trip to the national tournament since 2014.

“She started every game and her basketball IQ and shiftiness were critical to our overall team dynamic,” State Fair coach Nicole Collier said. “She was deadly with the ball in her hands and fantastic off ball screens with her ability to shoot behind the screen or thread the pass perfectly to our posts. She is the ultimate team player who wants to win and is willing to play whatever role it takes to get that result.”

Next year, Rodgers will continue her basketball career at a new school. She will be playing at Truman State University, an NCAA Division II school in Kirksville. She will join a Bulldog program that finished at 14-17 last year.

“I have no doubt that she will do big things at Truman State and in the GLVC,” Collier said.

Rodgers played all 29 games at State Fair and scored in double digits in 19 of them. She scored 20 points or more twice, including a 26-point effort against Kennedy-King College on Jan. 4. She finished as the Roadrunners’ leading scorer.

Collier said Rodgers was successful last winter because she spent plenty of time working on her game.

“Her work ethic separates her from the rest,” the State Fair coach said. “She is up every morning getting shots up and extra work before most people are even awake.”

The Roadrunners finished with a 24-7 record after losing to Arizona Western College in a first-round game of the NJCAA National Tournament on March 25 at Casper, Wyo. They advanced to nationals after beating Three Rivers Community College 73-70 in the Region 16 championship game on March 14.

Rodgers turned in a strong effort in the regional tournament, scoring 33 points in two games. She scored 21 points with five 3-pointers against Crowder College in the semifinals and followed with a 12-point performance against Three Rivers in the finals.

Rodgers earned first-team all-Region 16 honors. The other State Fair players who joined Rodgers on the all-region team were Kayla Sullivan (first team), Shae Wright (second team) and Ellie Buscher (second team).

While at MCHS, Rodgers earned all-state awards in her junior and senior seasons.

Rodgers signed to play basketball at State Fair on March 28, 2024. She joined a program that was coming off a trip to the Region 16 championship game the year before.

Collier said she enjoyed working with Rodgers even though it was a short time.

“On top of being a big time hooper she is an exceptional young lady and was a blessing to coach,” Collier said.

Rodgers also turned in a banner cross country season at State Fair. She helped the Roadrunners win the Region 16 championship and qualify for the NJCAA Division II national meet at Richmond. Va.

Rodgers was the team’s top finisher in both region and national meets. She placed second with a 20:56 in the regional meet and 71st with a 20:41 at nationals. She also earned NJCAA all-academic honors.

Rodgers competed with the MCHS cross country team all four years. She was a three-time state qualifier and earned all-state honors in her freshman and sophomore seasons.