In her first year as head coach for the high school’s girls basketball program, Coach Erika Evans reflected back on the season during the awards banquet with appreciation for a team that played hard for her.
“I could not ask for a more fantastic and hardworking group of kids,” Evans told parents at the banquet. “Some kids just don’t have the love for the sport and their program and their coach that they’re willing to come in and fight battles for you every day; these kids are willing to do that for me, despite the monstrosity of the battle sometimes.”
Brooke Elder was awarded Rookie of the Year, Selah Wright was named Defensive MVP, and Adrienne Funk earned the All American Award during the girls basketball awards banquet on Tuesday, March 5.
Evans thanked the parents for “buying into the mission” of building a team culture of family by driving their daughters to practice, attending games and being there during the tough calls as well as the wins.
“That, from me, does not go unnoticed to parents, and definitely from your girls,” she said.
Recognizing the new girls basketball program at the high school was going to be “an uphill battle” for the first few seasons, Evans said the girls “bought in” to being a part of that program by setting goals to inch the needle forward and establish the foundation for future improvements. Evans also recognized Kyla Dennan and Jocelyn Fairchild, who contributed as managers for the team.
Brooke Elder and Amara Gonzales were recognized by Evans as showing “astronomical growth” during the course of the season, while Aaliyah Brown was recognized for being able to overcome the mental hurdles of team sports and wear a smile at all times. Evans appreciated Selah Wright’s commitment to spend extra hours practicing a left-handed layup until she got it down.
Coach Evans shared about Addy Vannice’s natural leadership skills and being able to determine which role she needed to play to help the team in a game, and Aubrey Newberry’s fearlessness to do at least one charge a game.
“In girls sports in general, girls don’t like to do a couple of things. One of the things is jump, and second they don’t like to draw contact or take contact,” she said. “(Newberry) is one of the best charge takers I’ve ever seen, and that takes a lot of cojones to want to step up and take a charge, or multiple, every game.”
Loralai Mark was honored for actively looking at how she could contribute, while Hannah Donnell was honored for determining how to fulfill roles that were needed in games. Evans recognized Adrienne Funk’s ability to take everything she learned and deliver it onto the court, as well as the many functions she performed behind the scenes.
The coach awarded Keely Boyd for her ability to create chaos, always managing to be “in the wrong place at the right time,” and awarded Madison Duncan for her ability to recognize situations really well and inquiring how she could be a motivating force for the team.
“I cannot thank you girls enough for your dedication,” Evans said. “I really, genuinely could not ask for a group of girls more dedicated to the mission that we laid out on day one. And I cannot be more grateful to the parents for all for being dedicated to it.”
JV Coach Caytlin Gillespie said she “had a blast” during her first year of coaching basketball.
“This group of JV girls that I had were a phenomenal group of young ladies, very positive, came to practice, (and) worked hard every day,” Gillespie said. “I couldn’t ask for a better group to coach.”
Mailey Brewer was awarded JV Defensive MVP for being a defensive force down low in the post and “finally stepped up and took a charge for our team” at a North Marion game. Kalissa Ellis was awarded JV Offensive MVP for being able to drain threes in the middle of a game.
“Some of the times that we saw her shoot threes, we were like, ‘How did that go in? ‘Cause I don’t know how,’” Gillespie said.
Eturnyti Allison and Tori Jones were awarded the “hustle” award, while McKenzie Olheiser and Khloe Wood were named “most improved.” Jayla Moore took home the “positive attitude” award, and Talitha Watkins walked away with the honor of “great communicator.” Koharu Yasuda won the “rebound award” for wrestling for her rebounds both offensively and defensively. The “work horse” award was given to Xavia Pike, and the player who was referred to as the “team mom,” Madison Sailors, walked away as “most inspirational.”