The late Mary Ostrowski, a Parkersburg native who left us far too soon, got another award earlier this month as the University of Tennessee’s 2015 SEC Women’s Basketball Legend during a Volunteer home game in Knoxville.

Her younger sister, Beth Ostrowski Hundman, sent me an e-mail concerning the newest honor for Mary “O,” who of course starred at Parkersburg Catholic High School before becoming the first No. 1-rated recruit to sign and play for Pat Summitt at Tennessee from 1980-84.

She will also be recognized for the award posthumously during the SEC Tournament in Little Rock, Ark., next month.

Already a Lady Vol Hall of Fame inductee in 2006, the 1985 UT graduate was a 6-2 forward who scored 1,729 points and grabbed 994 rebounds during her collegiate career. That ranks Mary “O” 11th and fifth respectively in those two categories for Tennessee.

She led the Vols in scoring twice and was UT’s top rebounder in three seasons.

Ostrowski, described as as “a gifted and hard-working player” by the UT press release, was a 1982 Kodak All-American, and an All-SEC selection and SEC All-Tournament team member in both 1982 and 1984.

Nationally in her time in Knoxville, Mary “O” helped Tennessee advance to NCAA Final Fours in 1981, 1982 and 1984. She earned a pile of postseason honors in her senior season, making the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team and NCAA Mideast Regional All-Tournament team in addition to being named the NCAA Mideast Regional MVP. Also that season, she was the NCAA Tournament’s leading scorer and rebounder.

On the international stage, Ostrowski was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1981-1983, helping the squad to a gold medal at the 1983 World University Games.

She also played on the U.S. Junior National Team from 1978-80 while in high school, where she led PCHS to two Class A state championships and an 88-game winning streak, and was a multiple first-team all-state choice and three-time W.Va. Girls Basketball Player of the Year, the award which is now named for her.

Unfortunately, Mary “O” was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in 2007 and passed away on July 19, 2013 at the age of just 51.

* A total of 153 fighters, as of Tuesday, had signed up to compete in the 30th annual Mid-Ohio Valley Toughman Contest, set for both Friday and Saturday nights at PHS Memorial Fieldhouse.

While you may either love or hate Toughman, remember that those packed-to-the-rafters full houses each night benefit not only the PHS Athletic Department, co-sponsor of the event along with Jerry Thomas’ West Virginia Sports Promotions, but also the school’s Junior NROTC unit, which operates the Toughman concessions.

* From the “Was Glad to Finally See” category: First, Joe Garrett honored by Belpre High School by naming the gym floor as “Joe Garrett Court.” Garrett coached the Belpre boys basketball team in two stints for 20 years with three Ohio Final Four appearances, including a state runner-up finish.

And second, getting the Big Ten Network on Suddenlink cable in Parkersburg. If you know me, ’nuff said.

Contact Steve Hemmelgarn at shemmelgarn@newsandsentinel.com