Four Hamilton County girls basketball stars are among the 15 seniors and 15 underclass players that have earned IBCA/Franciscan Health “Supreme 15” All-State honors for 2020-21, it was announced earlier this week.
Fishers’ Katie Burton is one of the players on the 2021 IBCA/Franciscan Health Supreme 15 Senior girls’ team. Burton averaged 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Tigers, leading them to a 17-5 record. She has committed to play at St. John’s University, a Division I school in New York City that is a member of the Big East Conference.
The other members of the Supreme 15 Senior team are, listed alphabetically: Ally Becki, Brownsburg; Madelyn Bischoff, Roncalli; Courtney Blakely, Hammond Noll; Trinity Clinton, Penn; Tyra Ford, Anderson; Lilliann Frasure, North Judson; Marissa Gasaway, Silver Creek; Hanna Knoll, Angola; Meg Newman, North Central (Indianapolis); Vanessa Shafford, Linton-Stockton; Brynn Shoup-Hill, Goshen; Jayla Smith, Lawrence North; Trinity Thompson, Michigan City; and Ariana Wiggins, Heritage Christian.
Meanwhile, three county players are on the 2021 IBCA/Franciscan Health Supreme 15 Underclass girls’ team: Carmel junior Kate Clarke, Westfield junior Alyssa Crockett and Noblesville sophomore Ashlynn Shade.
Clarke has been a force for the Greyhounds since her freshman year, and stepped up big this season, scoring 18.1 points per contest while helping Carmel to a 15-7 record. Clarke has committed to play at the University of Michigan.
Crockett is also entertaining several offers from Division I schools, which is no surprise considering her play over the past three seasons. This year, she contributed 17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, leading the Shamrocks to a Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship.
Shade is only a sophomore, but has been gaining attention nationally for her performances for the Millers team. Shade averaged 23.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 4.2 assists for Noblesville, leading them to a 21-5 record and its first sectional championship in six years.
The other Supreme 15 underclass players are, listed alphabetically: Kuryn Brunson, Franklin; Jessica Carrothers, Crown Point; Laila Hull, Zionsville; Rashunda Jones, South Bend Washington; McKenna Layden, Northwestern; Ayanna Patterson, Homestead; Amiyah Reynolds, South Bend Washington; Mila Reynolds, South Bend Washington; Ali Saunders, North Harrison; Lilly Stoddard, Crown Point; Josie Trabel, East Central; and Tanyuel Welch, North Central (Indianapolis).
The IBCA also named Large School All-State teams (15 seniors, 15 underclass) and Small School All-State teams (15 seniors, 15 underclass).
Carmel’s Bridget Dunn was named to the Senior Large School All-State team. Dunn has committed to play at Kent State University and was having a solid season before it was ended by injury.
Two county underclass players earned honors as well. Hamilton Heights freshman Camryn Runner is part of the Underclass Large School All-State team; Runner was an integral part of the Huskies’ sectional championship run this year. University sophomore Kelsey DuBois was named to the Underclass Small School All-State list; DuBois averaged a double-double and led the Trailblazers to a regional title.
The “Supreme 15” is the top honor awarded, and players were voted to that group without regard to school size. The Large School and Small School all-state teams are secondary accolades — the Large School group including players from Class 3A and Class 4A schools and the Small School group including players from Class A and Class 2A schools. Players who make the Supreme 15 are not considered for Large School or Small School honors.
In addition, 90 more seniors and 90 more underclass players were selected honorable mention all-state. The honorable mention laurels are awarded without regard to school size. Hamilton Heights’ Jillian Osswald, a Taylor University commit, was named to the senior honorable mention list, while Fishers sophomore Hailey Smith was named to the underclass honorable mention roster.
The IBCA/Franciscan Health All-State teams are selected through a process organized by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and presented by Franciscan Health Sports Medicine.
All IBCA-member head coaches have the opportunity to nominate players. A panel of 20 IBCA coaches — 16 from the current regional areas, three district representatives (one each from IHSAA Districts 1, 2 and 3) and the committee chairman — then meets to review the nominations, vote and finalize the selections.