For the sixth 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 2024-2025 season.
Want to know how we come up with our rankings? Click here.
Today, we continue the countdown on the girls hoops side with positions No. 40-36.
No. 35 – Leah Shappell, Leo
Already a Division II softball commit, Shappell has also started a stellar career on the basketball court. She scored in double figures in five of Leo’s first six games last season and actually missed that double digit mark just six times as a sophomore. Including in her eight double doubles a season ago were a 15 point/16 rebound effort against Concordia and 12 points/17 rebounds against DeKalb. For the season, Shappell averaged 11 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
COACH’S QUOTE ON SHAPPELL
“Leah is a versatile player whose main focus is her team finding success. She has continued to develop her perimeter shooting game, but this summer looked to attack the rim and use post moves more as well. Leah works hard and enjoys every aspect of playing team basketball and competing with these girls!” – Leo coach Carrie Shappell
No. 34 – Haiden Bailey, Huntington North
Bailey built on her successes last season as developed more consistency on both ends of the court with her perimeter work. She dished out 2.3 assists per game but had another really good summer away from the Vikings that will really help her take a leadership role in her third varsity season. Bailey averaged 11.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last season and has become a high energy scorer for coach Matt Hinds and company.
COACH’S QUOTE ON BAILEY
“Haiden is playing with two speeds and seeing the court really well right now. She is playing fast, free, and decisive. Our pace will go as she goes this season and we will look to her to lead us on the court as well as from a leadership standpoint.” – Huntington North coach Matt Hinds
No. 33 – Izzie Eke, Bishop Dwenger
Following in the footsteps of her older sister, Eke became a force to be reckoned with at times during her freshman campaign for the Saints. She will look to up that effort with new head coach Kirk Comer, the former longtime Jay County leader. Eke ended up leading the Saints with 10.2 points per contest, scoring a career best 23 against Wayne. She also averaged 3.2 rebounds per game, tied the team high with 1.3 assists and added 1.2 steals per contest.
No. 32 – Konley Ault, Bluffton
The combo guard missed out on all of December and the start of January in her sophomore season, but when she was on the court she thrived and helped push Bluffton to the brink of the conference title. She scored in double figures in 10 of the 13 games she played in last season, shooting 46 percent from the field and 68 percent from the free throw line. In her shortened season were also six games with 5 or more rebounds, three with 5 or more assists and seven with 4 or more steals. Ault averaged 11.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals.
COACH’S QUOTE ON AULT
“Konley will again have the ball in her hands a ton on offense as she can play any of our 4 perimeter positions with her driving and 3 point shooting ability. She is a match up problem for our opposition with her attacking quickness and ability to shoot.” – Bluffton coach Doug Curtis
No. 31 – Alyssa Anderson, Woodlan
Anderson had a breakout sophomore campaign, scoring 22 points in her first game and then posting double doubles in three of Woodlan’s next five games. Her peak double double performance came with 23 points and 17 rebounds in a in over Concordia. She is the only player in the area to return for the 2023-24 season after averaging a double double last season. Anderson paced the Warriors with 11.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while also adding 1.2 blocks per contest.
COACH’S QUOTE ON ANDERSON
“Alyssa became an at times dominant inside presence for us last year. Her rebounding and shot blocking ability were crucial to our success. She had her two biggest games in the ACAC championship game and the sectional game. I believe she can and will be even better this year.” – Woodlan coach Dave Randall
PREVIOUSLY IN THE COUNTDOWN
2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks