Look out Boathouse.
On Dec. 23, Carroll’s girls basketball team took on Western in the championship of the Cougars’ holiday tournament in a big local matchup. Carroll had already dispatched an 11-1 Cass team earlier in the day in the semifinal round and waiting in the final were the Panthers, unbeaten to that point at 13-0.
It was a clash of Class 2A No. 6 Carroll and Class 3A No. 6 Western for Christmas break bragging rights and was a measuring stick for both teams. And for Carroll senior Alli Harness, it was the moment that stood out when sifting through the most memorable, fun and important games of her career.
“Honestly, I would say this past year when we won our holiday tournament,” Harness said. “It was against Western and it was a really good game. It was a big game too, everybody was there.
“The feeling that we won our holiday tournament was awesome because that was one of our goals this year was to win our holiday tournament. Western’s a really good team, they played really hard and really good all year round. We came ready and we beat them and that was so much fun. After in the locker room we celebrated, and went out to eat and celebrated.”
The Cougars celebrated their tourney title at the Boathouse in Burlington and went on to post a 20-4 season that included winning the Hoosier Heartland Conference title.
The chief figure in that four-year run was Harness. There’s several ways you can frame her as a basketball player. She’s the Cougar catalyst, she’s a Western Michigan recruit, she’s a freshly minted Indiana All-Star, and now she’s a two-time Kokomo Tribune All-Area MVP.
Harness, who shared the MVP with Northwestern’s McKenna Layden last year, stands alone atop the area girls basketball landscape this season.
“I’m just really blessed and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and the community supporting me,” Harness said. “This support system is amazing and I’m so blessed to have everything I have here. My teammates have helped me through everything.”
She had plenty of help on the Cougars as Madison Wagner is a first-team All-Area player and Laney Johnson was an honorable mention pick. All three are seniors, a class that includes teammates Jamilah Tillman, Mallory O’Brien and Jaelyn Kingery.
“This group of seniors, we’ve been so close since third grade. We’ve played together since third grade,” Harness said. “All the memories we’ve made since third grade — being undefeated in junior high and elementary, in high school like winning sectionals [in 2022], traveling together. It’s just been a really fun ride. This team has been really fun to play with.
“I’m really blessed to have the team I’ve had for four years because it’s been an amazing journey.”
Harness got a lot from her teammates, and gave her teammates plenty to bank on.
As a senior this season, 5-foot-8 guard led the Tribune area in scoring for the second straight year, this time at 20.8 points per game. She also led the area in assists (5.8), free-throw percentage (89.8) and steals (3.6). She was also 10th in rebounding with 5.5 and sixth in field-goal percentage at 47.5.
Harness had a triple-double of 23 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in Carroll’s 58-33 victory over University on Dec. 22.
“Alli does everything,” Carroll coach Brady Wiles said. “Alli, from the point guard position, makes everyone on the floor better. She draws double- and triple-teams at times, and when she does that she passes the ball and racked up those assist totals. When she’s guarded one-on-one she looks to score the basketball.
“She also guards the other team’s best player or second-best player night in and night out.”
The Indiana Basketball Coaches Association named Harness to its small school senior all-state team.
Harness’ high school career yielded a four-year run where the Cougars won at least 18 games each season. Carroll’s four-year record in that span was 78-21. She finished her Cougar career with 2,134 points, the 32nd-leading scorer in state history and as Carroll’s leading scorer. She’s also Carroll’s all-time leader in assists, and broke the single-season assist record with 139 this season.
“When you talk about the impact you see in the program, you see first and second graders wearing No. 2 T-shirts [Harness’ number] at our games. Alli’s impact will carry on for the next eight to 10 years in my opinion,” Wiles said.
Below are looks at the rest of the players on the 44th-annual All-Area Girls Basketball Team.
FIRST TEAM
AIJIA ELLIOTT, KOKOMO
The Wildkats’ foundation in the post, Elliott put up her highest scoring and block averages of a four-year career as a Kat standout. With Elliott dominating in the paint, Kokomo increased its win total by three games to post a 15-10 record, finished with a 6-2 North Central Conference mark, and took third in the league.
Elliott Led Kokomo with 15.1 points, 7.8 rebounds per game and 2.9 blocks per game. She was third in the area in scoring, second in rebounding, first in blocks and third in field-goal percentage at 52.8. She reached the 1,000-point milestone, closing her Kat career with 1,139 points, good for seventh on the program’s all-time list.
She had seven double-doubles as a senior.
Elliott is a three-time All-Area player, taking a spot on the first team for the second straight year.
AFTIN GRIFFIN, CASS
A high-motor sophomore guard and endurance sport star, Griffin was a major factor in Lewis Cass’ breakthrough season. She was the Kings’ leading scorer as Cass captured its first sectional title since 2005 then went on to take a regional crown in a 22-4 campaign. Cass also won a share of the Three Rivers Conference title in its first year in the league.
Griffin was seventh the area in scoring at 11.9 points and made a major impact defensively with 2.7 steals, third in the area. Cass’ defensive average of 30.3 points per game led the area. She added a team-best 26 3-pointers and was 11th in the area in free-throw percentage at 68.9.
CHLOE HUNT AND MACKENZIE YORK, WESTERN
Forming the backcourt in Western’s all-senior starting lineup, Hunt and York led the way as the Panthers opened 13-0 on their way to a 16-win season.
Hunt averaged 12.8 points, a team-high 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game. York led the Panthers in scoring (13.0), assists (4.6) and steals (3.0) and took 4.6 rebounds.
Hunt shot 52% from the field. York shot 80.2% from the free-throw line and knocked down a team-high 21 3-pointers.
Both are repeat All-Area selections.
MADISON WAGNER, CARROLL
Wagner served as the perfect complement to All-Area MVP Harness in the HHC champion Cougars’ backcourt. A complete player, the 5-8 senior averaged 13.3 points, a team-high 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2 steals per game. In addition, she shot a team-best 33.3% from 3-land.
An example of Wagner’s versatility came in Carroll’s 70-39 victory over Delphi on Jan. 5. She finished with nine points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocked shots.
She made the IBCA’s small school senior all-state team.
A three-time All-Area player, Wagner closed her Cougar career with 1,466 points. She will continue her career at Trine University.
SECOND TEAM
LEXI HALE, NW
An active, athletic forward, Hale made a major impact as a senior as a consistent contributor in a transition year for the Tigers. She ranked among the area leaders in six categories, including ranking first in rebounding, second in field-goal percentage and third in blocks.
Hale was Northwestern’s second-leading scorer at 9.6 points, led the area in rebounding at 7.9, added 1.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game, shot 54.2% from the field, 68.2% from the line, and blocked 1.3 shots per game. She closed the season with three straight double-doubles and had five for the season.
She’s a repeat selection to the All-Area team.
AUTUMN HURT, TC
Hurt did it all during Tri-Central’s 8-14 season. The 5-6 senior guard led the Trojans in scoring (12.0), rebounds (6.6), assists (2.4) and steals (2.2).
Hurt’s active play led to plenty of free throw attempts. She made 63 of 105.
KINSEY MENNEN, CASS
The senior forward helped fuel Cass’ memorable season. She served as the main interior player while helping the Kings surge to a 15-win turnaround. It was Cass’ first 20-win season since 2002.
Mennen nearly doubled her scoring output to 8.5 points and helped the Kings’ stingy defense by finishing defensive stops on the glass with a team-high 7.6 rebounds, fourth in the area. She led the Kings in assists at 2.4, and was second in the area in blocks at 1.9 per game.
MIRANDA STOLL, MAC
Stoll turned in a big senior season to lead the Braves to an 11-11 record. The 5-10 guard scored 15.0 points per game, which ranked No. 2 in the area. She shot 36.5% from 3-land and made an area-best 54 triples — both program records.
In addition, Stoll averaged 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals.
A two-time All-Area player, Stoll holds program records for career 3-pointers made (136) and career 3-point percentage (34.3).
KAYLEIGH TURNER, WESTERN
Turner was another spoke in Western’s balanced offensive wheel. The 5-8 senior scored 9.8 points and shot 73.5% from the charity stripe.
In addition, Turner took 4.6 rebounds and dished 1.6 assists.
THIRD TEAM
ANNA BISHIR, NW
Northwestern’s main scorer and distributor, the junior guard provided scoring at all levels and ballhandling as the Tigers learned a new offense.
Bishir led the Tigers with 10.2 points, added 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals. Her free-throw percentage of 75.8 was sixth-best in the area.
She’s a three-time All-Area selection.
BAILEY CARSON, MAC
Carson complemented fellow All-Area player Stoll in Maconaquah’s lineup.
The 5-5 senior guard was second on the team in scoring (9.7) and rebounds (4.0) and first in assists (2.7) and steals (1.9).
MA’KAELA DRAKE, KOKOMO
The second scorer on a 15-win Wildkat team, Drake took the lead on the perimeter as Kokomo’s three- and four-guard lineups opened up space for Elliott inside. The Kats were 5-2 in games where she hit double digits.
Drake, a junior guard, averaged 8.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.8 steals. She was ninth in the area in free-throw percentage at 69.8.
Drake is a two-time All-Area selection.
JENNA ODLE, EASTERN
An all-around impact player the senior point guard, Odle’s play was critical in Eastern’s five-win improvement this season as she led the team in scoring, assists and steals.
Odle upped her scoring output to 10.6, ninth in the area, added 3.6 rebounds, was seventh in the area at 2.6 assists and added 1.8 steals. She was second in the area in free-throw percentage at a reliable 84.3 and also canned 19 triples.
ADDISON ROBBINS, PERU
Another do-everything guard, Robbins excelled as a sophomore, leading Peru in scoring, assists, steals and was second in the team in rebounds. A major outside threat, she hit 40 3-pointers.
Robbins was 10th in the area in scoring at 10.3, added 4.9 rebounds, was second in the area with 4.0 assists, and added 2.0 steals.
HONORABLE MENTION
Laney Johnson was another key part of Carroll’s 19-5 season. She averaged 8.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.0 assist. … Heta Kosunen (Cass) was a post option on offense and a major source of grit, averaging 6.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.5 steals. … Kamaria White (Kokomo) was third in the area in assists at 3.5 to go with 3.6 points and 3.6 rebounds and was fourth in the area in steals at 2.7. … Jallainah Harris made an impact for Taylor as the team’s leading scorer, rebounder and leader in steals.
