HANCOCK COUNTY — Girls basketball players from Hancock County teams made up one-half of the 12-member All-Hoosier Heritage Conference team and New Palestine first-year coach Craig Moore was named the league’s coach of the year.
The eight-school league that includes Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon and New Palestine along with Delta, New Castle, Pendleton Heights, Shelbyville and Yorktown, recently released its conference honors.
New Palestine and Pendleton Heights were co-conference champions. Both teams finished the season 6-1 in league games. The Dragons defeated the Arabians in the regular season and sectional tournament. Greenfield-Central, the third-place team, gave New Palestine its one regular-season conference loss.
Moore, in his first year as the team’s head coach, led the Dragons to a conference title and 14-11 overall record. They avenged the regular-season loss to the Cougars in the sectional. New Pal reached the sectional title game, losing to Mt. Vernon, 48-39.
Moore was joined on the all-conference team by seniors Allison Blum and Vivian Miller.
Blum, a 5-6 guard, averaged 17.0 points per game — third best in the HHC — 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 steals — fourth best in the HHC — and 2.5 assists per game.
Miller was the team’s second leading scorer at 11.2 points per contest. The team’s 5-5 point guard, Miller led the Dragons and HHC with 3.6 assists per contest. She also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals.
Greenfield-Central was 5-2 in conference games and 17-7 overall. The 17 overall wins were more than any HHC team.
The Cougars were represented by two juniors, Chaney Brown and Madison Sonsini.
Brown, a 5-9 forward, averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, a team-best 2.3 assists, and a co-team-best 2.0 steals.
Sonsini, a 6-foot-tall forward, led G-C in points and rebounds averaging 14.6 and 9.2, respectively, per game. She was third in the league in double-doubles with 10. She also had a team-high average of 2.0 blocks per game and added 2.1 assists. Her rebound average was fourth-best in the HHC.
Mt. Vernon seniors Ellery Minch and Easton Wampler were selected to represent the Marauders, sectional champions for the fourth straight year. Beset by injury much of the regular season, the Marauders finished fourth in the conference at 4-3 and were 13-14 overall.
Recently named an Indiana All-Star, Minch, a 6-2 forward/guard, averaged 14.2 points, 6.2 rebounds. 2.0 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals.
Wampler, a 5-10 senior, added 7.4 points, a team-best 2.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Her 53 made 3-point field goals were the most among HHC players.
Other members of the team included Jillian Barr (Delta), Emma Hart (New Castle), Kaycie Warfel (Pendleton Heights), Olivia Jones (Pendleton Heights), Ava Wilson (Shelbyville), and Lilly Sylvester (Yorktown).
Shelbyville and Yorktown tied for fifth with 3-4 records. Delta was 1-6 and New Castle finished 0-7.
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2024 All-HHC Girls Basketball Team
Name;School;Grade
Jillian Barr;Delta;10
Chaney Brown;Greenfield-Central;11
Madison Sonsini;Greenfield-Central;11
Ellery Minch;Mt. Vernon;12
Easton Wampler;Mt. Vernon;12
Emma Hart;New Castle;12
Allison Blum;New Palestine;12
Vivian Miller;New Palestine;12
Kaycie Warfel;Pendleton Heights;11
Olivia Jones;Pendleton Heights;10
Ava Wilson;Shelbyville;12
Lilly Sylvester;Yorktown;10
Coach of the Year: Craig Moore, New Palestine
