Conference Look-In: Hoosier Hills Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='486508' first='Mollie' last='Ernstes'] (2026) of Jennings County High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the midpoint of the 2022-2023 high school season, I wanted to take the time to highlight some of the better conferences in the state. I'll take a quick look at the teams at the top, statistical leaders, players on the rise, a top Freshman, plus an under-the-radar recruit. In order to select which conferences get the first glance, I've taken the Sagarin ratings (<em>as of 12/4/22</em>) of each team in each conference and averaged them out to give each conference a "score", if you will. As for individual statistical leaders, I am working off of whatever has currently been provided on MaxPreps. If your team's stats on MaxPreps are incomplete, I apologize, but please ask your coach to put them there if you would like to be considered for stat-based portions in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Hoosier Hills Team Standings:</font></strong><br>Bedford North Lawrence (8-1 overall, 2-0 Hoosier Hills)<br>Jennings County (6-2, 1-0)<br>Jeffersonville (6-4, 1-1)<br>Floyd Central (4-5, 1-1)<br>Seymour (7-1, 0-1)<br>Columbus East (5-5, 0-1)<br>New Albany (1-10, 0-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Down South, the Hoosier Hills Conference doesn't always get the attention it should, until maybe a team advances to the Semi-State or State Finals. Granted, most everyone knows Bedford North Lawrence, but this entire conference is typically strong, nearly all of them play Top-50 schedules, and they go out of their way to schedule quality Central Indiana opponents. As usual, BNL will be the favorite this season, as the Lady Stars have a tremendous backcourt. Jennings County has one of the best interior players in the 2024 class and they have played BNL tough over the years, so maybe they can catch them on an "off" night this season. Seymour is solid with size, Columbus East has experience, size, and past success in their favor, and Jeffersonville has strong guard play throughout their roster. Floyd Central has a good, young nucleus that should be vastly improved in the years to come, while New Albany is building from the bottom up as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Hoosier Hills Statistical Leaders:</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-regular"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Scoring Leaders:</strong></td><td><strong>Rebounding Leaders:</strong></td><td><strong>Assist Leaders:</strong></td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127236' first='Saige' last='Stahl'], 2023, CE: 23.9</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177362' first='Juliann' last='Woodard'], 2024, JC: 14.0</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177357' first='Kendall' last='Sterling'], 2024, SHS: 4.4</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177362' first='Juliann' last='Woodard'], 2024, JC: 23.3</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127236' first='Saige' last='Stahl'], 2023, CE: 9.4</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59766' first='Karsyn' last='Norman'], 2023, BNL: 4.3</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='176409' first='Chloe' last='Spreen'], 2024, BNL: 21.8</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='324073' first='Nora' last='Gibson'], 2025, FC: 9.0</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177308' first='Madisyn' last='Bailey'], 2024, BNL: 3.3</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Steals Leaders:</strong></td><td><strong>3-Pointers Made:</strong></td><td><strong>Free Throw %:</strong></td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59766' first='Karsyn' last='Norman'], 2023, BNL: 3.8</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59766' first='Karsyn' last='Norman'], 2023, BNL: 19</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='460839' first='Allison' last='Craig'], 2023, CE: 94%</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127236' first='Saige' last='Stahl'], 2023, CE: 3.0</td><td><strong>Maeleigh Roberts</strong>, 2023, CE: 17</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='176409' first='Chloe' last='Spreen'], 2024, BNL: 84%</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177362' first='Juliann' last='Woodard'], 2024, JC: 3.0</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177362' first='Juliann' last='Woodard'], 2024, JC: 15<br>[player_tooltip player_id='486508' first='Mollie' last='Ernstes'], 2026, JC: 15</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177362' first='Juliann' last='Woodard'], 2024, JC: 83%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">On The Rise: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='510363' first='Brooklyn' last='Carter'], 2023, 5-3 PG, Jeffersonville H.S.</font><br>- Brooklyn has been big for the Red Devils early this season, averaging 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Last season, she was more of a traditional point guard, handing out assist after assist while scoring under five points per game. But this year, she is using her compact strength and athleticism to score the ball at a much higher rate. She's also shooting the 3-pointer much more often and starting to find a rhythm there, plus she's shooting 87% from the charity stripe early this season. Defensively, she does a nice job of sitting down and defending the ball with her quickness, plus she has a little length, and she plays with a competitive motor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Under-The-Radar Recruit: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='177357' first='Kendall' last='Sterling'], 2024, 5-10 W/F, Seymour H.S.</font><br>- The easiest way to describe Kendall is by calling her a really nice basketball player. She is skilled, strong, tough-nosed, and plays with a motor, plus she has a good overall feel for the game. Defensively, she is best guarding forwards and bigger wings, but offensively, she shows such great versatility. She can handle the ball in transition and initiate the offense like a point forward. She has a little touch outside and can knock down the occasional perimeter jumper to keep defenses honest, but she's incredibly effective in the mid-post as well. She pursues rebounds and has a nose for the ball, and she doesn't mind contact or getting on the floor for loose balls, etc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Impressive Freshman: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='486508' first='Mollie' last='Ernstes'], 2026, 5-9 G/W, Jennings County H.S.</font><br>- Mollie is a long, wiry, active, and fairly athletic wing. She can handle the ball and create like a point forward, but she also has touch around the perimeter, the ability to drive by defenders and get to the basket for finishes, and a developing midrange game. She has had some big games already for the Lady Panthers, and as she gets stronger over the years, look for her to be an even bigger scorer, more involved in the offense, and take over more responsibilities when it's her turn. As for now, she will continue to contribute on a nightly basis, whether that's playing the role of scorer or facilitating for teammates. She's also a willing and capable defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->