For the fifth season in a row, Bounce and Outside the Huddle are counting down who they feel are the top 50 individual players in northeast Indiana heading into the 2023-2024 season.
Today, we continue on the girls hoops side with positions No. 45-41.
No. 45 – Paige Traxler, Eastside
Traxler has been the perfect player to blend of previous upperclassmen and the future for Eastside. Now as a junior, Traxler has put herself in the position to lead Eastside. She led the team in steals with 56 total last season while averaging 10.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2 assists per game. She is able to score on multiple levels and has shown how well she can play in Eastside’s current up pace tempo no matter the need on any particular night.
COACH’S QUOTE ON TRAXLER:
“Paige is a versatile guard that can drive the ball either direction and can get to the rim along with being a very good shooter from the outside. Paige is a very hard worker and is very good in transition and very good passer. She sees the floor bery well to find her teammates.” – Eastside coach Mike Lortie
No. 44 – Hope Bortner, Westview
As Westview looks to raise their program back up, Bortner has been a significant catalyst and a consistent one at that. She tied a program record in hitting seven three pointers against West Noble last season and made 53 total shots from deep over the season at a 34 percent success rate. Bortner averaged 8.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.
COACH’S QUOTE ON BORTNER:
“Hope is one of the best three point shooters we have ever had in our school’s history. She is a competitor on both ends of the floor and sets the tone for the way we want to play basketball as a team. Hope has improved her game to score at all three levels on the court.” – Westview coach Ryan Yoder
No. 43 – Janiya Johnson, New Haven
Johnson became one of the most intriguing players in the Northeast 8 Conference last season. While her team didn’t have a lot of success in the record book, Johnson was a scoring threat no matter the opponent, averaging a team high 13 points and 2.7 steals per game to go with 4.7 rebounds. She scored 25 points in a win over Marion and hit 4 or more three pointers three times.
No. 42 – Haiden Bailey, Huntington North
Bailey was able to find valuable time as a sopohmore in the Viking rotation and was second on the balanced team in assists at 2.5 per game. She also averaged six points and 1.4 steals per game as she was getting her feet wet on the varsity level. Coming off a really good summer, Bailey is expected to contribute at a higher level as one of the lead guards for the Vikings.
COACH’S QUOTE ON BAILEY:
“Haiden has the ability to see the court, get to the basket, and knock down the three. If she can continue to improve consistency from the perimeter and be a defensive presence like I think she can I believe she will play a big part in any success that we have.” – Huntington North coach Matt Hinds
No. 41 – Allie Boyer, Blackhawk Christian
Boyer has become a high volume scorer for the Braves over recent seasons and last year she was able to shoot 58 percent from the floor while averaging 13.5 points and nine rebounds per contest. She is a tremendous inside presence but it doesn’t end just at her offensive output. Boyer averaged two blocks per game and showed ways her volleyball play transfers over well to the basketball court.
COACH’S QUOTE ON BOYER:
“Allie is a one of a kind player. She creates so much uncertainty for defenses. It is hard to guard her with just one person and if you double her we have outside shooters that will hit the shot. Her size and strength give her a huge advantage over the competition. I look for her to be even more dominant this year than she was last season. Allie is not only a tremendous athlete, she is also an amazing person. People just gravitate toward her because of how genuine she is. It is truly a blessing to coach her.” – Blackhawk Christian coach Steph Gongaware
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