For the eighth 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 2026-2027 season.
Want to know how we come up with our rankings? Click here.
A few insights into Bounce’s protocol:
- This is based on high school impact, not college potential. We get it, there are D1 athletes here lower than non-D1 athletes. This isn’t a recruiting database, this is based purely off of high school output.
- No newbies. Players with previous varsity playing time only
Today, we continue the countdown on the girls hoops side with positions No. 45-41
No. 45: Kyra Lowe, Whitko
Kyra Lowe made an immediate impact in her first season at Whitko, giving the Wildcats another capable ball handler and an aggressive defender in the backcourt. As a junior, she averaged 9.2 points, 3.2 assists and 2.9 steals per game while shooting 51 percent from the field; she scored in double figures in each of the first five games of the season. She showed her scoring ability in a key win over Bluffton, sharing the team lead with 15 points. Lowe’s ability to create for teammates and pressure opposing guards will remain important as Whitko looks to build on its 25-2 season.
COACH’S QUOTE ON LOWE
“Kyra was a huge addition to our program last year and made an immediate impact. Her court vision and defensive ball pressure are second to none, but some of the most valuable things she does don’t always show up in the stat sheet. Her unselfishness, ball-handling ability, and willingness to make the right play make everyone around her better. Kyra is an incredible talent and an absolute joy to coach, and I’m excited to see her continue to grow and make an impact for us this season.” – Whitko coach Justin Jordan
No. 44: Gracelyn Martin, Lakewood Park
Gracelynn Martin gives Lakewood Park Christian an experienced anchor inside as she enters her senior season. The 5-foot-11 forward/center led the Panthers in scoring last winter, averaging 9.5 points along with 6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals. Her production extended to the foul line, where she shot 67 percent, while her rebounding and defensive activity allowed her to contribute beyond scoring. With that foundation, Martin projects as a central piece for the Panthers, who will look to her for steady offense, a strong presence around the basket and senior leadership.
COACH’S QUOTE ON MARTIN
“Gracelyn is such a great leader for our program. She is a four year varsity player now, and being on a team that is going to be very young makes her role even more important this season. Gracelyn is the type of kid you want in your program. She is talented, works hard, is a natural leader, and does everything we ask of her. We have high expectations for her coming off a season where she averaged 10 pts and 6 reb a game. We are running the majority of our offense through her. She had a really good summer and we expect that to carry over to the season!” – Lakewood Park coach Andrew Evertts
No. 43: Ciera Sefton, Blackhawk Christian
Ciera “Cici” Sefton made an immediate impact for Blackhawk Christian as a freshman, averaging 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2 steals in 26 games. Her length and athleticism made her a force on the glass and an active defender, while her energy helped earn her a place on Outside the Huddle’s All-Freshman Team. Her coach sees that first year of varsity experience as a springboard: Sefton now knows what to expect, has a better feel for the game and is ready to play with more confidence. With a skill set that complements Blackhawk Christian’s incoming players, she has a chance to turn a strong debut into a breakout sophomore season.
COACH’S QUOTE ON SEFTON
“Freshman year was really just the beginning for Ciera. She has such a natural joy and competitive spirit that is contagious to everyone around her. Her length, athleticism, and ability to make plays are tremendous assets to our team, and her skill set complements our incoming players extremely well. There is something special about having a year of varsity experience under your belt, and I think that experience is going to make a big difference for Cici this season. She understands what to expect, has a better feel for the game, and is ready to take another step forward. I have a feeling this could be a breakout year for her, and I’m excited to see her confidence and game continue to grow.” – Blackhawk Christian coach Steph Gongaware
No. 42: Ruby Grogg, Huntington North
Ruby Grogg gave Huntington North an inside presence from the start of her varsity career, averaginh 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, showing a knack for finishing around the basket and competing on the glass. Her 21-point, 11-rebound performance against Columbia City was one of two double-doubles on the season. Grogg also earned All-NE8 honorable mention, making her the only freshman recognized on the conference team. With that production already behind her, she enters her sophomore season as a key piece for the Vikings.
COACH’S QUOTE ON GROGG
“Very good shooter. We are going to have her play more on the perimeter this year. She is a good rebounder and defender. As she improves her ball handling Ruby will be a very hard player to guard. Her and Addi [Richardson] were our best all around players at the end of last season.” – Huntington North coach Gary Andrews
No. 41: Izzie Eke, Snider
Izzie Eke gave Snider a dependable two-way presence in her first season with the Panthers after transferring from Bishop Dwenger. The 5-foot-11 guard/forward scored 226 points in 2025–26, averaging 9 per game, and added 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 71 percent at the foul line. Her ability to contribute on the wing and help defensively earned her Second Team All-SAC recognition as Snider finished 8–1 in conference play.
COACH’S QUOTE ON EKE
“Izzie Eke has great size and skill set. She is one of few players that is capable of scoring at all three levels. She brings great versatility to our team being able to play multiple positions on the court. She is also stepping up as leader and is a great teammate” – Snider coach Reggie Tharp
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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