We officially wrap up the 2021-2022 girls basketball season with the naming of the 4th annual Outside the Huddle All-Area team.
For our selections, we narrowed down candidates to the top 16 players (as we see them) in the area. No second teams, no honorable mentions, just one group which the editors of OTH felt to be the best of the best this year.
In order alphabetically and by grade, here are this year’s honorees:
NATALEY ARMSTRONG, GARRETT
There may have been no player in the area more valuable this season than Armstrong. Her biggest individual moment was when she surpassed Jennifer Jacoby’s 1991 record for most assists in a single season in Indiana history, doing so during the regional round where Garrett won a title. Armstrong finished third in the COUNTRY in assists, putting up 250 (8.6 per game) during her senior season. Armstrong helped lead Garrett to NECC regular season, NECC Tournament, sectional and regional titles.
That wasn’t all Armstrong did though as she had career highs in almost every statistical category as a senior to lead the Railroaders as its point guard. Her 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game were all career highs. She had a tremendous run of five straight double-digit scoring games in early January, including a 26-point outing in a win over Fairfield. Armstrong had 15 games of double-digit assists, led by 15 against North Side and 13 against Lakeland.
Armstrong was named ICGSA All-State Third Team, IBCA Senior All-State Honorable Mention and All-NECC.
HAILEE KLINE, BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN
Kline became Blackhawk Christian’s all-time leading scorer during another solid season that saw Blackhawk Christian win its third straight sectional title. She shot 88.2 percent from the free throw line while scoring a team-high 12.5 points per game. While scoring has always been Kline’s major contribution at Blackhawk Christian, her distribution and ability to spread out the floor improved in 2021-22. She led the Braves with 5.7 assists per game and a 1.55 assist to turnover ratio.
Kline also was Blackhawk Christian’s leader on defense with a team-high 1.7 steals per game while also adding five total blocked shots and being the only Brave to appear in and start all 26 games.
Kline was named IBCA Senior Small School All-State. This is her second-straight season being named Outside the Huddle All-Area.
JYAH LOVETT, SNIDER
New to the Fort Wayne scene, LoVett spent little time making herself at home at Snider and giving the youthful team a veteran presence to build on. LoVett became one of the more tenacious players in the SAC on both ends of the floor and helped lead the Panthers to a sectional title and their first 20-win season in seven years.
LoVett led the Panthers in scoring at 18.4 points per game. She also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and three steals per contest. The scrappy 5-foot-7 guard scored 20 or more points nine times, getting above 30 twice including a 35-point, 11-of-16 shooting game to beat Northrop in the sectional finals. She hit 79 percent of her free throws and had six games with five or more steals.
She was named IBCA Senior Large School All-State and First Team All-SAC.
BEKAH MARSHALL, COLUMBIA CITY
With experience on a variety of Eagle teams that were NE8 contenders, Marshall’s experience proved valuable on the 2021-22 team that she helped to 20 wins for the first time in seven seasons and a share of the Northeast 8 Conference title.
Marshall’s shooting numbers were among the best on the team with her 41.6 percent from three point range being a team best, hitting the second most total threes on the team. She was also second in free throw percentage (70.7) and fourth in field goal percentage (52.6). Marshall posted a team second best 11.4 points per game while also averaging 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per contest.
She was named IBCA Senior All-State Honorable Mention and All-NE8 First Team.
MORGAN OSTROWSKI, GARRETT
The inside presence for Garrett, Ostrowski expanded her game on all parts of the floor during her senior season as she helped the Railroaders to NECC regular season, NECC Tournament, sectional and regional titles. She did nearly average a double double with 11.7 points and 8.6 rebounds. She had 14 games of double-digit rebounding with 15 against Noblesville and 13 on three different occasions.
What really stood out about Ostrowski was her versatility across the floor. She shot 64 percent inside the arc, 74 percent from the free throw line and became a lockdown defender no matter who she was guarding. She had two games where she registered four steals and had 40 total for the season to go with her 57 blocked shots, including seven against Bellmont.
She was named IBCA Senior Large School All-State and All-NECC. This is the second straight season that Ostrowski has been named Outside the Huddle All-Area.
AYANNA PATTERSON, HOMESTEAD
A look at the all-time Homestead record book shows you what Patterson meant during her four years with the Spartans and her senior year was arguably the best. Patterson ended her time as a Spartan first in rebounds, blocks and two-point field goals made in a career and in a season. She also holds the Spartan record for most points in a game with 43 and is second in career scoring.
During her senior season, another 20-win and sectional title winning campaign, Patterson averaged 25.7 points while shooting 60.4 percent from the field. She also averaged 11.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks with 19 double doubles. At the end of the season, Patterson was ranked No. 1 at her position and No. 4 overall by espnW and was named a McDonald’s All-American and Indiana Miss Basketball. She also was able to participate in the Jordan Brand Classic.
Patterson was also named ICGSA All-State First Team and IBCA Senior Supreme 15. She is a four-time Outside the Huddle All-Area player, being honored in each of her years at Homestead and is a two-time Outside the Huddle Player of the Year. She has been named OTH First Five, our highest preseason honor, three times.
Patterson will be continuing her basketball career at UConn.
OLIVIA SMITH, SOUTH SIDE
Despite a down year for South Side as a team, Smith shined as brightly as she ever has and it earned her an Indiana All-Star spot. She averaged 19.9 points per game while shooting over 41 percent from the field. Smith scored in single digits just twice while going over 30 points on three occasions, including 35 against Wayne in the postseason. She also hit seven three pointers in a game against Carroll.
Consistently a threat across the floor, Smith even had a game each in where she hit double digit rebounding (11 vs. Bishop Luers) and assists (11 vs. Homestead). She finished the season averaging five rebounds and 4.9 assists per game to go with 2.8 steals. Between her scoring and assist numbers, Smith had her hands involved in 250 baskets during the 2021-22 season. Smith finished her career at South Side with 1,310 points.
She was named IBCA Senior Large School All-State and First Team All-SAC. This is her third season being named Outside the Huddle All-Area. She has been named OTH First Five, our highest preseason honor, three times.
Smith will continue her playing career at Eastern Michigan.
TAYLOR DOUBLE, HUNTINGTON NORTH
Double is knocking on that 1,000-point door for her career with 721 after adding 274 total points and 14.4 points per game this season while the Vikings finished 18-5, a constant threat to everyone they stepped on the court with. Double’s shooting was balanced across all lanes, hitting 46 three pointers, 46 free throws and 45 two-point shots.
It may have been at the beginning of the season, but a highlight for Double was a buzzer-beating three pointer in November to sink Snider. Double averaged 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game. She also led the team with 9 total blocks and led in an off-forgotten but critical category with 69 deflections during the season.
She was named IBCA Underclass All-State Honorable Mention and First Team All-NE8.
TAYLOR FORDYCE, CARROLL
As the Chargers went through some transitions this season, Fordyce proved to be an important constant that kept the team in the SAC conversation. Appearing in 23 games, Fordyce helped the Chargers to a 14-win season. Along the way, the junior averaged a team best 15.2 points per game while having career high seasons in scoring, rebounding (5.5/game), assists (2.5) and steals (2.3).
She had a season high 30 points (11 of 17 shooting) against Norwell and never scored less than 11 points over the last nine games of Carroll’s season. She hit 41 percent of her three pointers, hitting a total of 41 during the season. Fordyce flirted with a triple double against Concordia when she scored 22 points with 6 rebounds and 6 steals.
Fordyce was named All-SAC First Team and IBCA Underclass All-State Honorable Mention. This is her second straight season being named Outside the Huddle All-Area.
BREA GARBER, FAIRFIELD
Fairfield was a heavy contender in the NECC and although they fell short of their goals there, postseason success in Class 2A was easily in reach. It propelled the Falcons back to the semi state round, showcasing their quick build to be a state contender again. Garber, the coach’s daughter, was at the forefront of that. She played a complete all around game this season and led a balanced Fairfield team with 15.8 points per game.
Garber is on the edge of the 1,000 career point mark, somewhere she should get in the first few games of her senior season. Garber currently sits at 942 career points. Garber also added team highs in 2021-22 in rebounds (5.6) and steals (3) per game while being second on the team with 3.1 assists per contest.
She was named IBCA Underclass Small School All-State and All-NECC.
SANIYA JACKSON, NORTHROP
Jackson wasted little time getting back to work at a new school for her junior season, putting Northrop right in the SAC and Sectional conversations, a place they will remain in large part to her. Jackson posted a very rare season long double double, averaging Bruin team highs in scoring (15.4 points/game) and rebounding (10.9). She also had a team third best three steals per game and second best 1.1 blocks per contest as she was a big on all areas of the floor.
Jackson was a double digit scorer in 19 of the 22 games she played in, shooting 60 percent from inside the arc. She had a season best 27 points against DeKalb.
She was named ICGSA All-State Third Team and IBCA Underclass All-State Honorable Mention. This is her second straight season being named Outside the Huddle All-Area. She has been named OTH First Five, our highest preseason honor, one time.
BAILEY KELHAM, GARRETT
Kelham led a really balanced Garrett team with 16.2 points per game to go along with 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. The Railroaders went on to win the NECC regular season and tournament titles as well as a Sectional and Regional. Along the way, she had some of the best shooting performances of her career and ended the season hitting 57 percent from the field, 34 percent from three point range and 83 percent from the free throw line. She scored a season high 28 points against Bishop Dwenger, one of nine games scoring 20 or more points.
Kelham is knocking on the door of being the best scorer in Garrett program history. Heading into her senior season, she needs just 177 more points to become the program’s all-time scoring leader as she currently sits at 1,256. She became just the 6th Garrett player to ever surpass 1,000 career points.
She was named IBCA Underclass Large School All-State and All-NECC. This is her third straight season being named Outside the Huddle All-Area. She has been named OTH First Five, our highest preseason honor, two times.
RENNA SCHWIETERMAN, JAY COUNTY
After her junior season, Schwieterman sits at 1,222 career points, just 235 off of Jay County’s record for the most points all-time. It was a wild pace that the junior pushed to get to that mark, scoring a team high 18.3 points per game this season. Schwieterman also led Jay County in assists per game (4.5) and steals (2.4) while adding a team second best 5.8 rebounds per game. Her numbers helped Jay County dominate the ACAC with regular season and tournament titles.
She only scored in single digits twice while scoring a season high 25 points against Bluffton.
She was named ICGSA All-State First Team, IBCA Underclass Large School All-State and All-ACAC First Team. This is her second straight season being named Outside the Huddle All-Area. She has been named OTH First Five, our highest preseason honor, one time.
ALISON STEPHENS, HOMESTEAD
While a lot of the attention at Homestead went to the McDonald’s All-American, Stephens had a tremendous breakout season where she became a critical piece of the Spartans winning another Sectional title and taking back over the SAC.
Stephens averaged 13 points per game while shooting 43 percent from the field (including 41 percent from deep) and 80 percent from the free throw line. Like her scoring average, Stephens 4.7 rebounds per game was second on the team. She also added 1.8 assists per game. Stephens hit a team high 71 three pointers, 20 more than the next best shooter on the Spartans.
She was named IBCA Underclass Large School All-State and First Team All-SAC.
DESTINI CRAIG, SNIDER
Craig became this season’s breakout player from Snider’s Class of 2025, second on the Panthers in scoring at 15.8 points per game while leading the team with 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 steals per contest. She posted double figure scoring in 16 of Snider’s last 18 games including 31 points (and 15 rebounds) in a win over Carmel. She hit 61 percent of her two point shots over the season and often found herself getting to the free throw line, including 12-of-16 against South Side, 9-of-10 against Carmel and 9-of-14 against Homestead. She posted six or more steals four different times.
She was named IBCA Underclass Large School All-State and First Team All-SAC.
ADDISON BAXTER, COLUMBIA CITY
As Columbia City exploded to the best start in the area, winning their first 17 games, this freshman appeared to be in complete control of her game. She ended up leading a balanced Eagle offense at 11.7 points per game, while shooting 44.1 percent from the field.
Baxter didn’t just come in and lead the Eagles in scoring though. She was able to effect all facets of the game with her rebounding, assist, steal and block totals all leading the Columbia City as well. She averaged 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4 steals per game. She was responsible for a quarter of the Eagles’ blocks too with 6 total.
She was named IBCA Underclass All-State Honorable Mention and All-NE8 First Team.
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