Alivia Bolinger, Concordia, sophomore
Bolinger is leading the Cadets in scoring (13.6) and rebounding (6.9), while also picking up 1.9 steals per game. She is a solid all around player, but her shooting is a real example of strength for her going forward in her career. Bolinger is the type of player who can really make waves and with Concordia’s ability to keep things low scoring defensively, that ability to get hot shooting (she has multiple 5 and 4 made three pointer games), it can be a difference the rest of her sophomore season and into her junior year.
Titus Schultz, Huntington North, freshman
Schultz started the season splitting JV and varsity time, but it seems as though Huntington North may see the value him as a future sharpshooter. He is working his time more and more into the Viking rotation and while his numbers show that he hasn’t been a big factor yet, we expect him to become a more important rotational piece not only this season but into his bright future. His first game of major minutes came in a loss to Leo where he scored 8 points in 24 minutes. He has hit 40 percent of his three pointers on the varsity level so far.
Abby Pliett, Central Noble, sophomore
Pliett’s emergence shouldn’t be a big shock if you know the name. She is built, in many ways, from the same mold as older brother Drew, currently a senior for the Cougar boys team. Pliett’s 12.1 points per game leads an underrated Cougar squad heading into the new year after going on a six game run of double digit scoring – she has 9 double digit games this season. She hit 10 threes total in back to back games against DeKalb and Lakeland and like many on this list, you can constantly see her game maturing from game to game.
Max Goheen, North Side, freshman
It is no surprise that Goheen has found a way to be an important part of the North Side lineup so early. He was highly touted out of Lakeside Middle School and it has been a while since the Legends had such a heady, past first kind lead guard even if he isn’t always in that role as a freshman. Goheen has strong court vision and works hard to get others involved, something that will help him be a staple of the North Side program going forward. The Legends have not had a lot of freshmen immediately contribute historically and those who do have been some of the best in program history when you realize it the the likes of Eshaunte Jones, Justin Jordan, Keion Brooks Jr. and Brauntae Johnson that have blazed the trail ahead of him.
Grace Scharlach, Fremont, freshman
Scharlach was a player that was really on everyone’s radar coming into the season as one of the most anticipated freshmen in all of Northeast Indiana. She has absolutely not disappointed as Fremont has won 7 of their last 8 as of this writing. She scored 20 points just a week and a half ago in a great win over Fairview (Ohio) and we haven’t seen anything close to Scharlach’s ceiling yet. She is a super consistent scorer who really could go down as one of Fremont’s best ever on the girls side. But we don’t want to rush to that yet, instead just know that Scharlach is a name that is going to be relevant for a very long time.
Donlaray Reese, Northrop, sophomore
The Bruins are in a rebuild and have seen some struggles in that process if you only look at their record. But good things are happening and it will take time for a program to adjust to such a vastly different style under a first year head coach. When its going to take some time, you need solid underclassmen to help build that. Reese is a very strong athlete who we’ve seen grow strength wise through this entire school year including football season. He gets downhill strong and it solid at adjusting his body to weave between defenders even in midair near the rim. Reese does a really good job of constantly being involved.
Averi Amstutz, East Noble, freshman
The Knights have an extraordinarily balanced lineup with many underclassmen taking key roles in the rebuilding process that has already paid major dividends. That said, Amstutz could be the most intriguing heading into the second half of her freshman season. Four underclassmen lead the Knights in scoring, led by Amstutz’s 10.9 points per game but her 2.3 steals may be the bigger headline. Amstutz can score, but she can certainly stop scoring from the other team too. She had four steals in her high school debut and has even produced an eight steal game this season.
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