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 look at the NECC.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Grace Scharlach, Fremont
Scharlach delivered a remarkable 2025–2026 season for Fremont, emerging as one of the most dynamic scorers in Northeast Indiana. The 5-foot-5 junior guard averaged 19.9 points per game, leading the Eagles’ offense while showing elite efficiency across the board. Scharlach shot an outstanding 63.1% on two-point attempts, 50.0% from three-point range (68-for-136), and 89.6% from the free-throw line, numbers that highlight her ability to score at every level.
Beyond her scoring, she contributed 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 3.1 steals per game, impacting the game as both a playmaker and a disruptive defender. Scharlach’s production also earned recognition during the season, including IBCA Player of the Week honors after a stretch that included a 29-point performance. All of this while leading the Eagles to their first ever state finals appearance.
HONORABLE MENTION: Mya Turner (Fremont), Taylor Mack (Eastside), Madison Jones (Fairfield), Emma Coffman (Garrett), Kendall VanderWal (Angola)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Kendall VanderWal, Angola
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.
Kendall VanderWal turned in a standout season for Angola during her first season as a move in for the program, serving as the centerpiece of the Hornets’ offense and a consistent two-way presence across all 23 games. VanderWal scored a team-high 19.1 points per game while shooting an efficient 47.7% from the field and 74.4% from the free-throw line. She also knocked down 32 three-pointers, showing the ability to stretch defenses while still finishing effectively inside. Beyond scoring, VanderWal filled the stat sheet with 9.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Her production and leadership made her one of the most influential players in Angola’s lineup throughout the season.
HONORABLE MENTION: Taylor Mack (Eastside), Madison Jones (Fairfield), Grace Swank (Central Noble), Kaydintz Bales (Central Noble), Dulce Canedo (Lakeland), Elyse Mead (West Noble), Bre Cory (Westview)
BREAKOUT/MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Avery Leech, Garrett
There are a lot of quality options in this category, but what takes Leech over the top is the level she had to step in on. Garrett didn’t have a big team, didn’t have a JV team and the option for Leech to grow at a slower pace wasn’t there during her freshman season. Many kids would fold under that pressure, but Leech did not as she played along two of the better players in the conference.
She played just under 30 minutes a night as a freshman, averaging 9.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in the process. Leech had her first double digit scoring game on just her second night as a high school player and scored a so-far career best 16 points against Bishop Dwenger. That first double digit game also came as her first career double double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. She also posted seven steals against New Haven, one of three games with 4 or more steals for the Garrett post player.
HONORABLE MENTION: Kaydintz Bales (Central Noble), Zoe Bowman (Lakeland), Isobel Wolheter (Prairie Heights), Elyse Mead (West Noble)
COACH OF THE YEAR: Shae Thomas (Fremont)
Fremont has won three straight Sectional titles, but before this season they had not won a Regional since 1999. And that semi state title? It always had alluded Fremont. Had…that is the key word for Fremont and coach Shae Thomas, an alum of the program. Fremont had not done a lot of things that they did this season, but Thomas’ consistency on the sideline has built the Eagles up massively.
Thomas’ third straight winning season in her four years at the helm of her former school has her at 72 career wins for Fremont. It would take the previous seven seasons combined before Thomas came to Fremont to top her career win total. If you want to beat the 28 wins she got with the Eagles this season, you’d need to total the four season prior to her arrival to coach the program.
HONORABLE MENTION: Kyle Hartman (Fairfield), Mike Lortie (Eastside), Wade Hantz (Garrett)
EARLY 2026-27 CONFERENCE CHAMP PICK: Fremont Eagles
This could go alot of ways since this past season’s three champions – Fremont, Eastside and Fairfield – all bring back substantial pieces to try and make a run at the title next season.
But Fremont is coming off of something the others aren’t: a state finals appearance. We all know what Fremont can do, we all know the strengths of Grace Scharlach, Mya Turner and Chloe Verdin. But the experience for Fremont getting to state and playing in that state finals against a massively more experienced and bigger Borden team gives them a major boost.
The run to state may be as big for Fremont as the title game itself. The win over Marquette Catholic was one of the biggest in the postseason for any team in any class. Fremont was able to outclass the top ranked team in the state and championship frontrunner on their way to getting that title shot. Fremont was really good last season, next season should only be bigger.
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
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