Young Talent Rising: Players Owning Their Roles

Hamilton Southeastern and Brownsburg are two of the top-ranked programs in the state of Indiana—both loaded with talent, leadership, and players capable of impacting games at a high level. But beyond the stars on each roster, what truly separates these programs is the depth and the young players who consistently star in their roles.   This article highlights six underclassmen—three from each team—who have been key contributors not only in the HSE vs. Brownsburg matchup, but throughout the season. Along with player evaluations, you'll also find a full game review that breaks down how these young athletes are helping drive their teams' early success.   Game Review: Brownsburg vs Hamilton Southeastern   Florida commit KK Holman set the tone early for HSE with her ability to attack the rim and get to the free-throw line, finishing the night with 17 points. The first half turned into a back-and-forth battle, with Brownsburg outscoring HSE 14–12 in the second quarter to take a 28–27 halftime lead. Offensively, HSE opened the second half with better paint touches, especially through Bowling Green commit [player_tooltip player_id='486486' first='Kayla' last='Stidham'], who consistently put pressure on the defense, who ended the game with 13 points. Earlham College commit [player_tooltip player_id='486488' first='Antonette' last='Green'] also played a steady role at the point guard spot alongside Holman, helping control tempo and keep the offense flowing. HSE regained the lead and never surrendered it, outscoring Brownsburg by 10 points in the second half. Behind a 30-point second half, HSE closed out the game and earned a 57–48 victory over the Bulldogs. They return to action on December 3rd for another HCC matchup against Noblesville.   For Brownsburg, the Bulldogs opened the game on an 8–3 run, but HSE quickly responded to shift momentum. Brownsburg's best offensive stretch came in the second quarter, when they put up 14 points, but the team struggled to find consistent energy to start the second half. They surged again in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to overcome HSE's lead. The Bulldogs were led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1273479' first='Laniah' last='Walkine'] (13 points) and Florida Gulf Coast commit [player_tooltip player_id='486533' first='Elle' last='McCulloch'] (10 points). Brownsburg will look to bounce back on December 5th in another HCC matchup against Franklin Central.    [player_tooltip player_id='992352' first='Haylee' last='Mezera'] is steadily carving out her place in HSE's rotation, and game by game she's proving to be a reliable spark off the bench. Her confidence continues to grow, and it shows in the poise she plays with and the decisions she makes on both ends of the floor.   In the matchup against Brownsburg, Mezera contributed 5 points, but her impact went beyond the box score. She continues to be highly efficient, especially from the perimeter—she's currently shooting 50% from three, a testament not only to her shooting ability but also to the confidence she's gaining within HSE's system.   As a sophomore competing for minutes on one of the state's most talented rosters, Mezera's growth is especially encouraging. Her development is benefiting both her individually and the program as she prepares for an even bigger role in the years ahead.     Abby has been a steady varsity presence for three years, and now she's earning meaningful minutes in some of the biggest games on HSE's schedule especially in one of the toughest conferences in the state. With experience in both varsity and JV over the past two seasons, she's showing real maturity in how she approaches the game.   In the matchup against Brownsburg, Abby did an excellent job of creating scoring opportunities for teammates while staying unselfish and letting the offense flow. Her decision-making led to quality looks, and she added her own scoring punch, finishing with 8 points while shooting 2-for-4 from three.   As a junior with valuable experience, Abby is starting to truly settle into her role within HSE's offense. She's becoming a dependable contributor who helps this group maintain its status as one of the top teams in Indiana. Her consistency and leadership are trending in the right direction at an important time in the season.     One of the first things that stands out about Piper is just how well she shoots the basketball. She moves confidently without the ball, comes off screens with purpose, and consistently finds her spots to knock down open looks. Against Brownsburg, she quickly became a tough cover for their defense, hitting three threes and finishing the night shooting 50% from beyond the arc (9 points).   For HSE, having a young shooter like Piper adds another layer to an already well-balanced offense. Alongside sophomore guard Brinley, she stretches the floor, creates spacing, and forces defenses to stay honest. As a sophomore, Piper is stepping into her role with poise, and her shooting continues to be a valuable piece of HSE's offensive success.     Bri Brown brings a strong, physical presence to this young but experienced Brownsburg group. She came off the bench and delivered 6 key points, helping spark Brownsburg's second-quarter run and shifting the momentum in their favor. Her impact goes beyond scoring—Bri defends well on the perimeter, but she's also capable of holding her own in the post, giving Brownsburg valuable versatility on the defensive end.   As a junior, she's beginning to take on a larger role within the offense, showing more confidence in looking for her shot and attacking when opportunities open up. Bri's combination of strength, defensive ability, and developing scoring touch makes her an important piece for Brownsburg as the season continues.     [player_tooltip player_id='1171496' first='Gabbi' last='Harvey'] continues to impress as a sophomore and is quickly establishing herself as an important piece for Brownsburg. She added 6 points in the matchup, but her overall production this season has been even more notable—averaging 11.5 points per game on exceptional shooting percentages. As the team's second-most efficient scorer, Gabbi consistently provides reliability and poise well beyond her age.   Her ability to score at all three levels and play within the flow of the offense makes her a natural fit for Brownsburg's system. With her skill, confidence, and steady progression, Gabbi is shaping up to be a fun player to follow over the next three years—and one who will continue to elevate this program moving forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1263941' first='Ava' last='Emberton'] is a young freshman point guard who has stepped onto the scene for Brownsburg with confidence and maturity well beyond her age. She's already off to an impressive start in her high school career, highlighted by being voted IndyStar Player of the Week after a standout offensive performance.   Against HSE, Ava didn't put up her usual scoring numbers, but what stood out was her ability to impact the game in other ways. She defended the ball with energy, communicated well, and consistently put her teammates in the right spots offensively—small details that matter for a young point guard running a varsity-level system.   With her competitiveness, shooting ability, and natural leadership presence, Ava is going to be a fun player to watch over the next four years. She is currently Brownsburg's second-leading scorer, averaging 12.5 points per game, and is just beginning to scratch the surface of what she can become for this program.

Hamilton Southeastern and Brownsburg are two of the top-ranked programs in the state of Indiana—both loaded with talent, leadership, and players capable of impacting games at a high level. But beyond the stars on each roster, what truly separates these programs is the depth and the young players who consistently star in their roles.