Girls basketball season is over, but just like last year, I am not quite done with things yet. So over the next few days, Bounce will be giving out some awards of his own, solely of my own opinion, about each of the four main conferences in our area. Don’t forget that Outside the Huddle will award their official Player of the Year and Coach of the Year soon.
Today we head to the Northeast 8 Conference.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Avarcia Nard, New Haven
Here is where the important clarity of this award comes in. Every time OTH talks MVP, it is important to point out that we focus on exactly what it stands for and it isn’t “BEST PLAYER.” Who was the most valuable to their team with what they provide? Sometimes it means the best player, sometimes it doesn’t, but specifically it is who is MOST VALUABLE to a team’s overall success. I am NOT naming a traditional conference player of the year, but focusing in this column on overall value.
There is zero question to Bounce that Nard deserves to be mentioned here. Not only where would New Haven have been during the 2020-2021 season without Nard, but where would the program be as a whole without her? New Haven finished 8-12 but doubled their wins from Nard’s junior season and she won just five total games as a freshman and sophomore. For a team to come back from the depths that New Haven has been in, it needs players to stick around and, for lack of a better term, trust the process.
Nard did that through the lean years and a coaching change. Nard flourished as a senior, averaging 14.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Back to back wins in January over Bishop Luers and Heritage were major for this program and the progression they have and will take. Nard’s value in that progression is unquestionable.
Honorable Mention: Kaylee Fuelling, Norwell; Taylor Double, Huntington North; Maiah Shelton, Norwell; Kyndra Sheets, Columbia City
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Kyndra Sheets, Columbia City
The freshman guard has come around for the Eagles at just the right time after 2020’s graduating class was loaded. She is a major scoring threat and established herself as one of the best scorers in the conference immediately, never mind that she has three seasons left to rise to the tip of that bunch. Columbia City retained a pretty talented roster into this season, but it was Sheets’ consistent performances that really helped them stay a threat atop the Northeast 8 nightly.
Honorable Mention: Lauren Bleke, Bellmont; Kennedy Fuelling, Norwell; Leah May, Leo; Grace Sell, Huntington North
MOST UNDERRATRED: Lauren Bales, Norwell
The attention goes to Maiah Shelton and Kaylee Fuelling in the Norwell lineup and rightfully so. But Bales has been the rock at the front of this trio for years. Bales was a tempo setter on both ends of the floor, not afraid to ever see things up to a frantic pace but also one who could take her time and make sure offenses were set or emotions were calmed. As Norwell reached the peak of their play during the four seasons Bales was a varsity starter, her accomplishments should be recognized as she really changed how Norwell was able to play during her time.
Honorable Mention: Avarcia Nard, New Haven; Reece Colclesser, Huntington North; Maddie Hickman, DeKalb; Faith Morris, Bellmont
COACH OF THE YEAR: Eric Thornton, Norwell
Thornton knew what he was doing when he let his senior class take the reigns as freshmen and he knows what he is doing in letting the next group flourish too. At this point, just look at the man’s resume to see how good he does is producing a culture that is bigger than a single year or player. Save for a state title, Norwell has done it all under Thornton and really did almost everything under him just this season. Thornton knows, as well as any coach in the area, how to play to the strengths of his players and coach to accentuate the positives.
Honorable Mention: Amy Shearer of Columbia City; Andy Heim of Bellmont
GAME OF THE YEAR: Huntington North at Columbia City in overtime, January 16
This was a really fun game of runs where points were at a premium during various parts of the game. Columbia City shot an impressive 52 percent from the field while hitting 12 free throws, but Huntington North’s ability to extend possessions and get good three point looks kept Columbia City’s efficiency from being overwhelming.
The Viking raced out to a 24-12 lead at halftime, their defense getting some quality takeaways, but the Eagles really heated up in the second half to even force the overtime scenario. Once they did, the momentum was just too squarely in Columbia City’s favor as Hayley Urban’s 13 points led them to victory.
Honorable Mention: East Noble at Huntington North, January 8; East Noble at Leo in overtime, January 21; Norwell at Bellmont, January 16; New Haven at Columbia City, January 29; Norwell vs. Bellmont Sectional, February 6; Bellmont at Huntington North, January 22
BOUNCE’S PICK TO BE 2022 NE8 CHAMPS: Bellmont
This is going to be a close race next year for a title and Bounce thinks it is more likely than not that it is shared among two or three teams. This is a year coming up where there likely are really no “off” or “easy” nights in the Northeast 8. I’m going to say that a reloading Norwell will be right in this one, as will a Columbia City team who was better than expected this season and returns a ton of players of consequence into 2021-22.
So why Bellmont at the top? This is a team who is settling nicely into the realm of being a consistent program across the board. The top star power faded some post Grace Hunter’s 2019 graduation and this past season there really wasn’t a star for the Squaws, just a very good, consistent group. They finished third in the conference but went 17-6 and had Norwell on the ropes twice, which was far from easy to do. Bellmont has built a program for sustainability and it may be hard to find a group that will be more consistent in a tight season in 2021-22.
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
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