Recently, we unveiled our plan to name area programs’ top five players of the 21st century, which sits at 25 seasons in both football and basketball.
Reminder, this is based on high school career performance ONLY. This is by no means a definitive list and, if anything, is encouraging debate on potential omissions to this list.
Through exhaustive research, reaching out to former coaches and players and our own personal opinion, here is the OTH Quarter Century Team for Concordia Lutheran Cadets girls basketball.
Note: The list is in alphabetical order
Carissa Garcia
Garcia developed into one of northeast Indiana’s premier guards, powering the Cadets to three consecutive sectional titles before a stat-stuffing senior season (19.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.5 spg). She broke the program’s all-time scoring record as a senior and was honored as the 2019 Tiffany Gooden Award winner as the best player in the SAC, regardless of gender, and an Indiana All-Star. Garcia went on to play Division I at Northern Kentucky
Shania Kelly
Kelly was a four-year varsity starter who powered the Cadets to a 21–5 senior season and a 2017 sectional title. She posted double-double type numbers across her career (11.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG overall), peaking as a junior at 16.1 points and 10.0 boards per game, then filling the stat sheet as a senior (11.9 pts/8.5 reb/2.2 ast/2.5 stl/1.7 Pts blk). Her production and team success earned her IBCA Large School All-State recognition.
Andrea Newbauer
A four-year backcourt leader at Concordia Lutheran, Newbauer piloted the Cadets to the 2010 Class 3A state championship and a 24–3 finish, closing her senior season at 13.5 points per game and earning Indiana All-Star and IBCA Senior All-State honors. The year prior as a junior she posted 13.4 points and 6.0 assists per game, leading Northeast Indiana in assists and setting Concordia’s single-season mark. After graduation she played at Indiana University.
Courtney Smith
Smith broke through early as a sophomore starter on the 2012 Class 3A state champions, contributing 9 points and 7 boards in the title game. She blossomed into the Cadets’ senior-year leader, averaging 16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 steals while leading a 19–4, 7–0 SAC campaign. Her production brought IBCA Senior All-State Honorable Mention and Hoosier Basketball Magazine Top 60 honor. She was also an Indiana Junior All-Star. After graduation she enrolled at Indiana University South Bend.
Dejour Young
Young was a do-everything backcourt scorer who ramped up to a senior line of 18.5 points, 7.1 boards and 2.6 assists per game while leading Concordia to a 19–8 season, the SAC Tournament crown, and a 2015 sectional title. Her production brought IBCA Senior All-State (Large-School), All-Northeast Indiana First Team, Top-60 Workout, and Nancy Rehm Border Wars selections. She also starred on Concordia’s 2014 3A volleyball state champs before heading to IPFW.
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