Coming into 2026 strong

As the calendar turns to 2026, I will look at a few players from the Southwest region who finished 2025 on a strong note with a great performance or two.     What a game for the sophomore as part of the Clark County Shootout! In a game I attended in person, Lilly put on a show that was almost historic. She was two assists shy of a quadrupal-double. She scored 28 points, 12 rebounds, 11 steals and eight assists as Northwestern defeated Catholic Central. She has had double-doubles in seven of her last eight games, and in her one miss, she still had nine rebounds. Her game continues to elevate with D3 offers on the table and she is improving. (featured photo above)     During a two-game stretch in mid- December, Caroline set the school record at Oakwood with nine three's in a game when she scored 34 points in a win against league foe Carlsle. The very next game, she said watch me do it again!  She dropped nine more threes in a 27-point performance against another league opponent Middletown Madison. Roelle is a D3 signee at Grove College and her December was strong at over 18 points per game. She also is shooting 43% from the 3 meaning she is steady from behind the arc.      What a month for the Dayton Public Schools senior from Ponitz. She is currently averaging 30.2 points per game which included a 36-point performance in a 55-52 win over league foe Meadowdale. Cosby also had 10 steals in the win. A couple of weeks before, she had a triple-double with 35 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals as Ponitz knocked off Belmont 52-36. She is finishing her amazing career strong as she looks to figure out her future in the game. Without question, her career has been stellar with amazing quickness and athleticism, and explosiveness to finish at the rim. It is noted that in her four years, she has only been held to single digits once.      It was a strong finish of the month for Princeton sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='966457' first='Erin' last='Thomas'], a 6'1 guard who has become one of the most talented overall sophomores in Ohio. She dropped 34 in their big win over Middletown, then had to compete against two of Ohio's most powerful teams; Big Walnut and defending state champs from Winton Woods. Erin had 24 against Big Walnut then had 17 points, 8 rebounds in a huge win against Winton Woods. It was a much anticipated match between Thomas and the state's #1 junior Sydney Mobely from Big Walnut, who finished with 38 points and 14 boards.     In a couple of games over the break, Green had two solid games. In a tough loss to Loveland, Avery scored 25 and grabbed eight rebounds before her team bounced back in a tough 58-55 win against Lebanon. She had 26 points and 14 boards during the win. She is solid in the paint, and can defend the post. Solid rebounder, can get to the line and knock them down. Her numbers all season have been steady, staying very close or ahead of the benchmarks of 40%/35%/70%. She is only a sophomore and has already turned heads!

As the calendar turns to 2026, I will look at a few players from the Southwest region who finished 2025 on a strong note with a great performance or two.