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IHSAA girls basketball IndyStar 2023-24 All-West team

matthew glenesk and brian haenchen, indianapolis star
·5 min read

This year, we're bringing back something IndyStar used to do: separate all-East, West, North, South and Indy postseason teams. These are in addition to our Super Team, which honors Central Indiana's best of the best. But we cover more than 80 high schools, and there are a lot of girls basketball players worthy of recognition — well beyond the 15 Super Team members.

These teams were selected via consultation with IndyStar Preps Insider Brian Haenchen and input from area coaches.

FIRST TEAM

Danville's guard Emma Ancelet (33) yells to a teammate Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, during the game at Danville Community High School in Danville.
Danville's guard Emma Ancelet (33) yells to a teammate Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, during the game at Danville Community High School in Danville.

Emma Ancelet, Danville, Jr. — She led the Sagamore Conference champions in scoring (15.2), assists (6.5) and steals (3.2). An IBCA underclass large school all-state pick, Ancelet added 6.0 rebounds per game in helping the Warriors to a 24-4 record and one game shy of the Class 3A state finals.

Payton Benge, Plainfield, Sr. — An IBCA senior Supreme 15 all-state selection, Benge was Plainfield's lone senior and carried that leadership role, helping the young Quakers to an 18-8 record and semistate appearance. Benge, coach Curt Benge's daughter, averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds. The Mid-State All-Conference pick will play next season at Spring Arbor (Mich.).

Avery Gordon, Brownsburg, Jr. — A Purdue recruit, Gordon averaged 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. An IBCA underclass Supreme 15 all-state pick and Indiana Junior All-Star, she shot 56% from the field this season and has over 1,000 career points. She scored 41 points in a win over Westfield, going 20-of-29 from the field, and had 14 double-doubles, including nine with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Plainfield Quakers freshman shooting guard Hannah Menser shoots the ball Jan 5, 2024, at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana.
Plainfield Quakers freshman shooting guard Hannah Menser shoots the ball Jan 5, 2024, at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana.

Hannah Menser, Plainfield, Fr. — She burst onto the scene, scoring 26 points in just her third varsity game, a four-point win over a really good Danville team. She scored 24 against Tri-West, 21 against Center Grove, 25 against Mooresville, 24 against Brownsburg and another 27 points against Danville in double OT to win the Hendricks County tournament. An IBCA underclass large school all-state pick, she led the Quakers in scoring (15.2) and 3s made (59, 39%), while adding 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game for the sectional and regional champions.

Aniah Smith, Avon, Jr. — An IBCA underclass large school all-state pick, Smith averaged 21.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and an astounding 5.2 steals (!) per game. Already a 1,000-point scorer (1,090 to be exact), the 5-3 guard had five 30-point games, including a school-record 39 in a late-November win over Plainfield. An Indiana Junior All-Star, she set a school single-season records in (483) and steals (119) this season.

More: Avon's Aniah Smith 'makes the hard things look so easy.' And she's just getting started.

SECOND TEAM

Lauren Bear, Tri-West, Jr. — An IBCA all-state honorable mention selection, Bear led the Bruins in scoring with 15.8 points per game and added a team-best 3.3 steals per game. A first-team All-Sagamore Conference pick, she scored 20 or more points five times this season, including 28 points vs. Western Boone in December.

Addison Davis, Danville, Jr. — A first-team All-Sagamore Conference pick, Davis was Danville's leading rebounder (7.0) and second-leading scorer (13.0). She also added 2.5 steals per game. An IBCA underclass all-state honorable mention, she scored in double figures 21 times, with a season-high 23 against Decatur Central in January.

Kenzie Fulks, Bethesda Christian, Sr. — An IBCA senior small school all-state pick, Fulks led the Patriots with 20.3 points, 5.2 assists per game and 4.0 steals per game, while adding 3.7 rebounds. A four-year starter, she helped Bethesda Christian to four sectional titles and scored 1,728 points in her career.

Danville's Maddy Wethington (5) rushes up the court against Plainfield Quakers guard Morgan Barnes (5) on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, during the game at Danville Community High School in Danville.
Danville's Maddy Wethington (5) rushes up the court against Plainfield Quakers guard Morgan Barnes (5) on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, during the game at Danville Community High School in Danville.

Maddy Wethington, Danville, So. — The Warriors' top 3-point threat, she hit a team-high 58 3s (second-most was 17). She also shot 86% from the free-throw line and averaged 9.7 points. A first-team All-Sagamore Conference pick, she hit seven 3s in a December win over Bethesda Christian.

Berkeley Williams, Plainfield, So. — The Quakers' second-leading scorer, she's a big part of the young core that should keep Plainfield in contention for years to come. She averaged 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals . She scored 29 points in a sectional win over Brownsburg and 18 in the regional win over Pike.

THIRD TEAM

Aniyah Anthony, Tri-West, So. — Anthony was the Bruins' second-leading scorer at 8.6 ppg on 35% shooting. She finished a point shy of her season-high with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting vs. Perry Meridian, and rounded out her stat line with four rebounds, three assists and three steals per game.

Makaylee Butts, Avon, So. — Part of the Orioles' youthful core, Butts was good for 8.9 points (38% shooter), 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game — all of which ranked top-3 on the team. She scored a season-high 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting (five 3s) in a 62-58 win over Brownsburg in December.

Liviair Campbell, Cascade, Sr. — The Cadets' leading scorer (9.9 points per game), Campbell averaged 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. She shot 33% from behind the arc, she reached double figures in scoring 13 times this season.

Sydney Goodin, Bethesda Christian, Sr. — Goodin was second on the team in scoring (12.5) rebounding (6.3) and assists (2.4), helping the Patriots to a fifth-straight sectional title. She really came on late in the season, scoring 16.4 points per game over Bethesda Christian's final eight games, including 20 points vs. University and 25 vs. Covenant Christian.

Jayla Ferguson, Bethesda Christian, Sr. — The Patriots' leading rebounder (7.3), the 6-1 post player also added 8.5 points and 1.2 blocks per game. She's been a standout on the glass with 481 rebounds over the past three seasons.

Honorable mention

Avon: Mya Thompson

Brownsburg: Emma Hendricks, Elle McCulloch, Macy Twomey

Cascade: Creedence Chittenden, Lilly Hall, Chloe Smith

Danville: Lucy Riggs, Kooper Stone

Tri-West: Zoie Brunner, Regan Canada, Atta Garnett

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyStar girls basketball All-West team for 2023-24 season