Meet The Ledger's 2023-24 All-County girls basketball team
The girls basketball season in Polk County has come to a close, which means it's time for the all-Polk County teams to be announced.
Winter Haven's run to the Class 7A semifinals led the way for area teams, with multiple playoff appearances and some high-scoring individual efforts throughout the season.
The Ledger Girls Basketball Player of the Year
Serenity Hardy
Winter Haven, sophomore, guard
It seems like the talented Serenity Hardy has been playing basketball in high school for five years now. It seems like that because she started her career at McKeel Academy before going to Winter Haven. She's been an All-County player for both programs. But these last two years, she's been the best player on the best team in the county. Hardy guided her team to the state championship in 2023 and returned to the semifinals in 2024. Hardy on the year averaged 21.7 points on 42% shooting. Hardy can do it all as a guard.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: No sophomore slump for Serenity Hardy
MORE ON HARDY: New off-season training helps Hardy, Winter Haven beat Haines City in district title
The Ledger Girls Basketball Player of the Year
Johnnie Lawson
Winter Haven
Lawson comes from a prestigious tree of Polk County coaching and his branch is still flourishing. He led his team back to the state semifinals and faced Dr. Phillips for the second year in a row. Also, he racked up his 400th win at Winter Haven. The journey led to a season that eventually finished 23-6 with the No. 10-ranked team in the entire state of Florida. What a year for Lawson.
400: Winter Haven coach Lawson hits another milestone as team returns to 7A Final Four
60: Mulberry's Lorianys Castanon Cruz paces this week's Tremendous 10 poll with career-high game
The Ledger Girls Basketball First Team
Lorianys Castanon Cruz
Mulberry, junior, point guard
37.3 points, 3.7 steals
Soleil DeJesus
Excel Christian Preparatory, junior, point guard
24.7 points, 3.7 rebounds
Quin Gray deSanders
Winter Haven, sophomore, guard
13 ppg, 3.7 rebounds
Arissa Jenkins
Haines City, senior, point guard
24.3 points
Zebrelle Canaday
Haines City, sophomore, point guard
13.5 points
Dariasia Pitts
Kathleen, junior, power forward/center
14.1 points, 7.6 rebounds
Amaya Shaw
Kathleen, junior, small forward
15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds
Amelia Williams
Jordan Christian Prep, sophomore, point guard
17.9 points
The Ledger Girls Basketball Second Team
Marykate Benham: George Jenkins, senior, center
Le'zaria Davis: Lake Region, sophomore, guard
Kayden Gause: Kathleen, sophomore, shooting guard
Taylor Gibson: George Jenkins, junior, shooting guard
Victoria Hall: Winter Haven, freshman, center
Delissa Morris: Jordan Chrisitan Prep, sophomore, forward
Anyla Parker: Excel Academy, seventh grade, point guard
Vanessa Squire: Lake Wales, junior, power forward
Jaeden Williams: Winter Haven, junior point guard
Eleni Katzaras: Lakeland Christian, senior, point guard
Ava Anderson: McKeel, junior, point guard
The Ledger Girls Basketball Third Team
Bianca Barroso: Victory Christian, junior, guard
Le'Naja Davis: Lake Region, junior, point guard
Jade Grier: Kathleen, sophomore, point guard
Aubrey Hall: Winter Haven, sophomore, guard
Dashanique Henry: Winter Haven, junior, small forward
Sofia Hernandez: Santa Fe Catholic, junior, guard
Tateyanna Mickel: Lake Wales, sophomore, point guard
Delyana Morris: Jordan Christian Prep, sophomore, forward
Destiny Witherspoon: Lake Region, junior point guard
The Ledger Girls Basketball Honorable Mention
Lakeland Christian: Issa Simpson, Collette Zavada
Excel Christian: Aysia Mertz
George Jenkins: Taleah Turner
Haines City: Mikeyla Hill, Kassandra Cortez
Jordan Christian Prep: Taines Gonzalez
Kathleen: Malia Haney, Gabriela Villegas
Mulberry: Alana Standifer
Santa Fe: Takira Watson
Victory Christian: Jenna West, Myah Colon-Sanchez
Winter Haven: Lauren Jordan, Alsye Mercredi,
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: All-Polk County girls basketball team for 2023-24 season
