With the 2023-24 Delaware County winter high school sports season officially over, it’s time to look back at the athletes and teams that stood out amongst the fray.
Here are my picks for the winter sports season.
Best boys’ boys basketball player: Wapahani senior Isaac Andrews
In his final season with the Raiders, Andrews did everything he could. He scored over 20 points in 20 plus games (played 29 games) in and averaged 24.3 points per game.
In Wapahani’s sectional semifinal victory over Wes-Del, the guard became Delaware County’s all-time leading scorer by passing Muncie Central’s Ron Bonham. His play also helped the Raiders advance to the state finals for the first time in program history.
Best girls’ basketball player: Delta sophomore Jillian Barr
With a new head coach in Ty’Ronda Benning and a young roster with only one senior, Delta girls basketball came into the 2023-24 season with a fresh start. However, Barr led the Eagles to their best record (11-12) in six seasons and a Delaware County title.
By averaging 15.6 points per game. She also finished her sophomore season with 13 double-doubles and two triple-doubles.
Best boys’ wrestler: Delta junior Ayden Bollinger
Bollinger finished the 2024 wrestling season with a 42-1 record and came in third place in the 113-pound weight class at the IHSAA State Finals. His efforts helped the blue and gold win their first regional championship since 1996 and their first semi-state championship since 1991.
Best girls’ wrestler: Daleville freshman Kynlie Keffer
During her first season with the Broncos, Keffer proved to be one of the best competitors in the county as she finished her season with a 21-2 record. Her dominance continued in the state tournament as she finished in second place in her weight class at the state finals.
Best boys’ swimmer: Delta junior Zach Baty
Throughout the season, Baty proved to be a fierce competitor for the blue and gold. At sectionals, he came in first place in the 200 intermediate, the 500 and the medley. He also took home the gold medal in the 200-free relay.
Best girls’ swimmer: Delta junior Annie Jackson
Throughout the Eagles’ undefeated season in dual matches, Jackson was a key component. From setting the school’s 100 butterfly record to placing first in four races at sectionals – 200 intermediate, 100 butterfly, medley and the 400 free relay – she became one of the best swimmers in the county.
Head Coach Matt Luce talks to the team from the sideline against Brownstown Central March 30 at IHSAA State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Wapahani lost to Brownstown Central 55-36. Amber Pietz, DN
Best winter coach: Wapahani boys’ basketball head coach Matt Luce
Luce has been the Raiders’ head coach for 17 seasons, but this year, he did something he has never done in his entire 21-year head coaching career. He led the red and black to their first 2A State Finals appearance in program history.
Breakthrough winter athlete: Wapahani boys’ basketball sophomore Camden Bell
During the 2023-24 campaign, Bell proved to be someone the Raiders could count on when they needed him. He averaged 12.6 points per game and grabbed 3.7 rebounds per game. In the Raiders’ 112-18 over Union, Bell scored his season-high of 31 points.
Best winter team: Wapahani boys’ basketball
This season, the Raiders picked up right where they left off after falling in the first game of the semistate in the 2022-23 season. This year, they recorded a 26-3 record and went 9-0 in the Mid-Eastern Conference.
Over their 26 wins, they captured the program’s second-ever regional championship and first-ever semi-state championship. That win allowed the white and red to make the schools’ first appearance in the state finals, where they fell in the 2A State Championship game.
Best winter sports moment: Wapahani senior Isaac Andrews breaks Delaware County scoring record
On March 1, the Raiders traveled to Lapel High School to face Wes-Del in the semi-final round of sectionals. During the game, Andrews cut past the 3-point line and drained a pull-up jump shot, passing Muncie Central’s Ron Bonham to become the 765’s all-time leading scorer.
Best winter sports game: Delta boys’ basketball defeats Yorktown at the buzzer
Two rivals, a packed gym and a buzzer-beater to end the contest. What more could you ask for? Throughout the game, both the Eagles and Tigers gave it everything and went toe to toe at Delta High School.
However, the match between the two longtime rivals came down to the final play. Senior Kaiden Bond went for a layup, but the ball bounced off the rim. Senior Jackson Wors was right there to grab the ball and lay it in, beating the buzzer and giving the Eagles the victory.
Best winter sports performance: Isaac Andrews’ 29 points in the semi-state championship
Coming into the semi-state game at Lafayette Jefferson High School, the Wapahani Raiders boys’ basketball team was looking for the program's first appearance at the 2A State Championship game. After four quarters of basketball, the game was tied and was decoded in overtime.
The senior guard exploded and drained back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers to help lift the Raiders past Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian, capturing the red and black’s first-ever semi-state title.
Contact Zach Carter with comments at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on X@ZachCarter85.
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