Before we get to the 2026 Outside the Huddle All-Area Team and our end-of-year awards, Bounce wanted to take some time and take a last glance at area conferences and hand out some league-specific metaphorical hardware.
Today, we will look at the teams in the area that are not part of the four major conference.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Joslyn Bricker, Warsaw
Joslyn Bricker had a season Warsaw fans won’t forget anytime soon. She helped push the Tigers to the top of the state rankings for a stretch and, along the way, became the program’s all-time leading scorer. Bricker averaged 24.8 points per game, and it felt like she could get a bucket whenever her team needed one. She also chipped in 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, showing just how much she affected the game beyond scoring. Whether she was attacking, knocking down outside shots, or setting up a teammate, Bricker did a little bit of everything and was the clear heartbeat of Warsaw’s run.
HONORABLE MENTION: Brooke Zartman (Warsaw), Jayma Stonebraker (Whitko), Emma Walker (Manchester)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Jayma Stonebraker, Whitko
If you know Bounce’s awards and OTH history, you know MVP means something different than Player of the Year. MVP to us is someone who is legit the most valuable to their team and overall success of that program.
Stonebraker has been a steady, disruptive force for the Wildcats this season, helping Whitko climb to the top of the Class 2A rankings heading into the postseason. Stonebraker has averaged 12.4 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and an impressive 4.2 steals per game, leading the squad in both assists and steals while playing a tough, two-way game that fuels Whitko’s defensive pressure and transition offense. Her knack for creating turnovers and pushing the pace has been a key part of the Wildcats’ success, and she has shown she can score when needed.
HONORABLE MENTION: Brooke Zartman (Warsaw), Reese Stonebraker (Whitko), Jae Pickett (Blackhawk Christian), Gracelyn Martin (Lakewood Park)
BREAKOUT/MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Ally Brown, Whitko
Brown has quietly become one of the Wildcats’ most reliable and efficient players this season. Brown, a junior, averaged 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, showing strong presence around the basket and on the boards, while also chipping in 1.1 blocks per game. Her ability to score efficiently — she leads the team in field-goal percentage at 54 percent — and defend the paint has made her a key piece of Whitko’s balanced attack.
HONORABLE MENTION: Ciera Sefton (Blackhawk Christian), Kyra Kiser (Warsaw)
COACH OF THE YEAR: Justin Jordan, Whitko
There are plenty of stories in the area of program turnarounds under one coach. But what Justin Jordan has done at Whitko deserves all of the praise. Whitko won the TRC title and was mostly dominant in the process, Jordan helped elevate the Wildcats to the top-ranked spot in the state in Class 2A. The Wildcats finished 25-2 on the year, losing in the morning semi state game but capturing Sectional and Regional titles along the way. Keep in mind that Jordan acquired a team that went 2-20 in his first year in 2020-21 and he now has the program winning their first ever, and now back-to-back sectional and regional titles.
HONORABLE MENTION: Lenny Krebs (Warsaw)
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