For the second straight season, Outside the Huddle is extending our official postseason awards to honor some of the best defenders and some of the best newcomers in the area to recognize some other talents outside of our 15 player All-Area team.
So now we introduce to your our top 6 picks for the best defensive players and best freshmen in the Northeast Indiana coverage area to honor each category from the 2024-2025 season.
OTH 2025 ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Swynn Jackson, Northrop
Jackson led the SAC with 3.3 blocks per game, while also contributing 3.8 steals per game. While multiple players had good block or steal numbers, Jackson was so dominant in each defensive category, as well as averaging 3.7 defensive rebounds. She started down the path by having 10 blocks in Northrop’s season opener against Elkhart. Jackson had five or more steals seven times with a season high of 9, while she a single game where she had less than two steals, highlighted by 9 opposite Bishop Luers.
Addison Baxter, Columbia City
Of course arguably the best offensive player in the area also was one of the best defensive players for a second straight season. Deep across all of her stat lines, Baxter averaged an area best 4.7 steals as the clear fire starter for her team’s instant offense. All through the season, it seemed like catching a Columbia City game or box score was as much about how many steals Baxter had as it was her all-time record points chase. Baxter finished her career 478 steals, the best in program history all-time, as well as having the single season and single game steal records for the Eagles.
Anna Daughtry, Wabash
Wabash averaged 15.8 steals per game as a team with four different players averaging two or more steals per game. At the top of that heap was Daughtry, who averaged 4.2 steals per contest. Between November 8 and December 14, she had nine straight games of four or more steals with seven each in wins over Rochester and Marion. Daughtry hit seven steals again later in the season, but also posted two nine steal games, both in wins over Maconaquah and North Miami.
Leah Shappell, Leo
Shappell dominated every part of the floor for the Lions this season, including being their leader in 4 of the 5 major statistical categories outside of assists. 5.9 of her team high 9.9 rebounds per game came on the defensive end, where she used here length very well; in 10 of 15 games where she had more than five defensive rebounds, Shappell posted a double double. Shappell averaged 2.5 steals and 3.1 blocks per game during her junior season. She had six games of five or more blocked shots (season high of 7) and had eight games with 4 or more steals.
Jayonna Flotow, North Side
Rim protection was massive for North Side this season with Flotow, a junior, patrolling around the rim. She blocked 10 shots in just her fourth game of the season in a big win over East Noble. Despite compiling no blocks in her first two games this year, Flowtow tallied 20 in just the next three games, in part on her way to 3.3 blocks per contest. She had seven games of 5 or more blocks throughout the season, also averaging 4.3 defensive rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. Flowtow had 8 steals opposite Hamilton, but her 6 against South Side pushed her to the fringe of a quadruple double (10 points, 14 rebounds, 6 steals, 7 blocks).
Cara Schackow, Lakeland
The new #2 in Lakeland history in blocks, it seemed all season like Schackow was just shooting up the rankings and record books for the Lakers. She also averaged 2.2 defensive rebounds per game but her rim protection was too much to ignore. Schackow blocked four shots in each of Lakeland’s first two games, then went on to do that (or better) 11 more times, headlined by a seven-block effort against Churubusco. Schackow broke the Lakeland single season block record that was set by Brooke Crawford in 1998.
OTH 2025 ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Cala Haffner, Carroll
Haffner fit in smoothly at Carroll during her freshman season, averaging a team second best 15.3 points per game while leading the Chargers with 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.7 steals. In February, she broke the school record for FTM/FTA in a single game, going 19-of-24. She scored 19 points in her first high school game and scored a season high 32 against Snider.
Janaya Cooper, Snider
Cooper jumped in and immediately became Snider’s top player, leading the Panthers at 14.7 points per game to go along with 7.1 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, which were all team highs for Snider. She scored in single digits just four times during her freshman season, scoring a high of 33 against Merrillville and a monster 30 points against eventual Class 3A state champion Norwell.
Ashley Bleke, Bellmont
Bleke started alongside her sister as Bellmont claimed superiority in a very tough NE8 conference this season. Expectations were high on Bleke coming in and she lived up to them in every way, often leading this team in big wins. She was 1st Team All-Conference and shot 40% from three point range as she averaged a team second best 13.1 points to go with 4.6 rebounds and 2 steals per game.
Emma Coffman, Garrett
Coffman helped keep the Railroaders on track during different parts of the season. The freshman came in and gave Garrett some life with 11.7 points per game, as well as 3.5 assists per contest and she showcased a shifty offensive weaponry. She had a career best 26 points against Lakeland in February, but really started her career with a big stretch, with 16 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 4 rebounds in a 65-35 win over Heritage and later that week with 18 points and 2 steals in a 51-43 loss to Woodlan.
Desi Pope, Blackhawk Christian
Pope broke onto the scene at Blackhawk Christian as their next versatile small, quick guard. Her 20 points in January 30’s close win over Adams Central was a real sticking point for her offense this season. Pope averaged 10 points, 4 assists and 2 steals per game over her freshman campaign.
Khloe Dick, Bluffton
Khloe Dick stepped in to a pretty hot Bluffton lineup and didn’t miss a beat. She helped enhance this squad and give them continually big hopes for the future after running away with the ACAC during her freshman season. Dick averaged a team fourth best 8.9 points but considering the run that Bluffton went on to finish 22-3, that is nothing to shrug about as she added 1.5 steals per game. She scored a season best 21 against Northfield and had 5 steals in the same game.
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