As we close out 2019 and a decade with it, Outside the Huddle decided to look back at the big names of the Summit Athletic Conference during the last 10 years.
With that, we are naming this our SAC All-Decade Team.
Instead of naming the top 10 players from this period of time, we are going to do it a little different. We are naming the best player, in our eyes anyway, from each team during 2010-2019. Most of what makes them the player of the decade for their school has to do with what they accomplished at the school, but we are going to take a little into consideration college and professional work too.
Here it is: Bounce’s SAC All-Decade team for the girls.
BISHOP DWENGER – TAYA ANDREWS
Why her: She averaged 23.4 points per game in her All-Area senior season in 2016, being part of the Nancy Rehm Border Wars. Andrews was one of the area’s smoothest scorers during her career. She currently is a senior at Grand Valley State.
Other contenders: Greta Winklejohn, Ellen Ross
BISHOP LUERS – BROOKE RIDLEY
Why Her: Ridley was a key element in the Knights making three straight state finals appearances. She averaged 12.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in her senior season of 2012 before signing with Saint Francis. Ridley was an Area Player of the Year finalist that year. In college, Ridley was a three-time NAIA All-American and helped the Cougars to a national title in 2014.
Other contenders: Emma Wolfe, Addie Reimbold, Miracle Woods, Kathryn Knapke, Brierra Young
CARROLL – KELLI DAMMAN
Why Her: During her All-Area senior campaign, Damman averaged 14.1 points and 2.6 steals per game. She was a four-year starter in the Charger program during their transition into the SAC. She is currently a sophomore playing for Purdue University Northwest.
Other contenders: Maddy Peterson, Becca Villanueva
CONCORDIA LUTHERAN – CARISSA GARCIA
Why Her: Garcia was an Indiana All-Star in her senior season in 2019 and is the youngest player on this All-Decade group because of the things she proved for four years on the Cadets varsity level. She averaged 15.1 points as a senior, helped the Cadets to three straight sectional titles in high school and won the Tiffany Gooden Award. She is currently a freshman at Division I Northern Kentucky.
Other contenders: DeJour Young, Courtney Smith, Shania Kelly, Andrea Newbauer, Anna Goeglein
HOMESTEAD – KARISSA MCLAUGHLIN
Why Her: The SAC’s only Miss Basketball this decade, McLaughlin (pictured) leads off a huge core of great Homestead players this decade, even if some of them didn’t play in the SAC. She was First Team All-State three years, led the Spartans to a state title in 2017 and scored 2,586 points in her high school career. She is currently a junior at Purdue University, where she was named All-Big Ten as a sophomore.
Other contenders: Madisen Parker, Sydney Buck, Josie Fisher, Jazmyne Geist, Lindley Kistler, Grace German, Sylare Starks.
NORTHROP – ALEAH SWARY
Why Her: A four-year starter for the Bruins, Swary was an All-Area player in 2014 as a senior and was also part of the IBCA All-State team. She went on to play a variety of roles at Central Michigan, where she was part of the All-MAC Academic Team on multiple occasions.
Other contenders: Breanna Douglas, Arielle Thatcher.
NORTH SIDE – SIERRA MIRANDA
Why Her: It was a rough decade for North Side girls, but Miranda really made an impression during her time as a Redskin. She was a big scorer for North Side, averaging around 18 points as a senior. She went on to play basketball and softball at Trine and then softball at Purdue Fort Wayne.
Other contenders: Nya Coleman, Tyra Perteete
SNIDER – LIZA CLEMONS
Why Her: Clemons gets marked up here as a Panther because she was an Indiana All-Star her senior year at Snider, averaging 15 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 blocks that season. You could also say she’s All-Decade for Elmhurst, which closed in 2010 and she played at for three seasons. She was an all-area player as a senior and member of the coveted Fabulous Five team. She went on to play at Purdue University.
Other contenders: Deja Wimby, Akilah Sims, Kyla Covington, Kaylee Walters, Meredith Shipman
SOUTH SIDE – ARIANA SIMMONS
Why Her: Simmons was an Indiana All-Star for the Archers in 2013 before heading off to IPFW. During her senior season for the state runner-up Archers, Simmons averaged 17 points and 6.3 rebounds. She was also an Indiana Junior All-Star. Simmons went on to join the United States Army.
Other contenders: Brittni Clopton, Lakesha Stephens, Taniece Chapman, De’Joyah Johnson, Brittany Johnson
WAYNE – LACIA GORMAN
Why Her: Gorman finished her high school career with 1,604 points as a four-year varsity starter. She finished her career at Wayne where she was an Indiana All-Star and McDonald’s All-American nominee as a senior. She also was part of Elmhurst’s state title team in 2009 and was a Junior All-Star as a Trojan. She went on to play at Wisconsin before transferring to Northern Illinois. She is currently the head coach of the Wayne girls basketball program.
Other contenders: Sh’toya Sanders, Tashayla Sutorius, Imani Moore, Shamari Tyson
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