Whether the team needed her to hit a big basket, make the extra pass, guard the best offensive opposition, sink a pair of clutch free throws or grab a key rebound — Seymour junior Kayla Griffin invited the challenge.
She proved the Owls’ Swiss army knife, bolstering the ability to take over on both ends of the hardwood while playing multiple positions and roles.
This past winter, Griffin played a key position in the three and four spot on a veteran Owls team that won its first outright Hoosier Hills Conference title — going 7-0 in HHC play — and finished 9-0 at the Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium.
The Owls also set a school record with 18 wins en route to one of the most successful regular seasons in Seymour history.
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Shooting 57 percent from the field, averaging 11.9 points per contest while never taking more than 14 shots in a game, and 84 percent from the free-throw line on 62 attempts, Griffin could score at will with her strong 5-foot-8 frame.
With all her accomplishments this season, The Tribune has named Griffin the 2016 Jackson County Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
“(Griffin) has a good demeanor,” Owls coach Jason Longmeier said. “She stays calm and within herself during games. You can’t shoot her numbers and not be poised. The moment never got too big for her. She takes smart shots, and this year she did what we asked her to do.
“She is unstoppable, and that’s the message we keep trying to send to her. She’s so hard to guard because she’s so versatile.”
Opening with a 17-point performance against Salem, Griffin scored in double-digits in the Owls’ first seven games while averaging seven rebounds as they team went 7-0 in that stretch.
She finished in double figures 17 times in the scoring column for 2015-16.
Her season-high came against Columbus East, as she shot 8-for-8 for 22 points.
Griffin amassed seven double-doubles between points and rebounding on the season.
On the glass, Griffin grabbed 177 boards to lead the Owls at 7.7 rebounds per game.
While she appreciates individual acknowledgments, Griffin’s focus was always on the team first.
“It was a really fun season,” Griffin said. “I enjoyed playing with the seniors and fellow classmates. I looked up to the seniors when I came into high school.”
Griffin’s senior counterparts — Maci Lubker, Mikayla Fee and Morgan Ritz — averaged a minimum of 7.7 points per game, so putting up big scoring numbers didn’t come easy with firepower around her.
“Kayla is one of those kids that’s even capable of more,” Longmeier said. “I think that, on a lot of teams, she would have been a 20 (points) 12 (rebounds kid). However, on our team that wasn’t necessary. We had a lot of balance, and I think that was important with a lot of our success this year as a team.”
Her efforts on the season earned an All-Hoosier Hills Conference nod along with Fee. Lubker and Ritz each earned honorable mention accolades.
“It’s tough. I felt that this year we had three or four kids deserving of an All-HHC honor,” Longmeir said. “It’s a heck of an honor, and I think next year (Griffin) has a shot at being the best player in the conference.”
Griffin was honorable mention in the HHC as a sophomore.
“It means a lot,” Griffin said of the All-HHC status. “It’s a tough conference to play in. I want to be good and come in and make a statement. You have to come in and work hard every day.”
While she still has a year left before making college decisions, Griffin will likely play at the next level.
“She’s working really hard at her ball handling skills because at the next level that’s what she will need to do to play,” Longmeier said. “We have the intention of having her play Division I basketball, and if she does that she will probably play as a two (guard).”
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2016 Jackson County Player of the Year
Kayla Griffin, Seymour High School, Junior
273 total points, 11.9 PPG, Season-high 22 pts
108-191 FG, 57%
52-62 FT, 84%
177 rebounds, 7.7 RPG
57 assists, 2.5 APG
25 steals, 1.1 SPG
29 blocks, 1.3 BPG
All-Hoosier Hills Conference, Hoosier Hills Conference Champion, helped lead Owls to school-record 18 regular season wins
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Maddie Roark, Trinity Lutheran, SO
495 total points, 20.6 PPG, Season-high 44
165-371 FG, 44%
123-160 FT, 77%
85 rebounds, 3.5 RPG
48 assists, 2.0 APG
75 steals, 3.1 SPG
Top-50 in the state in scoring, Second in Class 1A in scoring, IBCA small school (Class 1A and 2A) underclassman All-State team
Katrina Christian, Crothersville, JR
380 total points, 16.5 PPG, Season-high 24
142-291 FG, 49%
80-131 FT, 61%
126 rebounds, 5.5 RPG
35 assists, 1.5 APG
49 steals, 2.1 SPG
All Southern-Athletic Conference, eclipsed 1,000 points for a career as a junior
Maci Lubker, Seymour, SR
250 total points, 10.9 PPG, Season-high 23
90-221 FG, 41%
44-59 FT, 75%
72 rebounds, 3.1 RPG
33 assists, 1.4 APG
12 steals, 0.5 SPG
All-HHC honorable mention, Hoosier Hills Conference Champion, helped lead Owls to school-record 18 regular season wins
Mikayla Fee, Seymour, SR
178 total points, 7.7 PPG, Season-high 22
63-126 FG, 50%
49-64 FT, 77%
125 rebounds, 5.4 RPG
35 assists, 1.5 APG
14 steals, 0.6 SPG
10 blocks, 0.4 BPG
All-HHC, Hoosier Hills Conference Champion, helped lead Owls to school-record 18 regular season wins
Morgan Ritz, Seymour, SR
197 total points, 8.6 PPG, Season-high 14
69-165 FG, 42%
23-39 FT, 59%
102 rebounds, 4.4 RPG
76 assists, 3.3 APG
49 steals, 2.1 SPG
4 blocks, 0.2 BPG
All-HHC honorable mention, Hoosier Hills Conference Champion, helped lead Owls to school-record 18 regular season wins
Morgan Wehmiller, Brownstown Central, SR
243 total points, 9.7 PPG
33-107 FG, 31%
48-73 FT, 66%
91 rebounds, 3.6 RPG
43 assists, 1.72 APG
47 steals, 1.88 SPG
Payton Farmer, Brownstown Central, FR
246 total points, 9.8 PPG
88-225 FG, 39%
70-116 FT, 60%
155 rebounds, 6.2 RPG
26 assists, 1.04 APG
39 steals, 1.56 SPG
Piper Hensley, Crothersville, FR
166 total points, 7.2 PPG, Season-high 13
57-158 FG, 36%
14-24 FT, 58%
29 rebounds, 1.3 RPG
24 assists, 0.9 APG
6steals, 0.3 SPG
School record 3-pointers for a season (38)
Abby Hackman, Trinity Lutheran, SO
224 total points, 9.3 PPG, Season-high 22
78-165 FG, 47%
68-100 FT, 68%
224 rebounds, 9.3 RPG
12 assists, 0.5 APG
41 steals, 1.7 SPG
9 blocks, 0.4 BPG
Madison Klinge, Brownstown Central, SO
141 total points, 5.6 PPG
40-112 FG, 36%
25-53 FT, 47%
77 rebounds, 3.1 RPG
47 assists, 1.88 APG
47 steals, 1.88 SPG
Grace Jaynes, Brownstown Central, SO
228 total points, 9.1 PPG
92-213 FG, 43%
38-59 FT, 64%
82 rebounds, 3.3 RPG
41 assists, 1.64 APG
33 steals, 1.32 SPG
24 blocks, 0.96 BPG
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Kristen Stuckwisch, Brownstown Central, SO
105 total points, 4.2 PPG
25-65 FG, 38%
31-52 FT, 60%
91 rebounds, 3.6 RPG
36 assists, 1.44 APG
41 steals, 1.64 SPG
7 blocks, 0.28 BPG
Lauren James, Seymour, JR
184 total points, 8.0 PPG, Season-high 15
63-158 FG, 40%
33-39 FT, 85%
54 rebounds, 2.3 RPG
55 assists, 2.4 APG
15 steals, 0.7 SPG
6 blocks, 0.3 BPG
Abby Jewell, Crothersville, SR
85 total points, 5.3 PPG, Season-high 18 (16 games played)
28-62 FG, 45%
24-45 FT, 53%
84 rebounds, 5.3 RPG
18 assists, 1.1 APG
13 steals, 0.8 SPG
Alexis Adair, Crothersville, SR
203 total points, 8.8 PPG, Season-high 17
84-212 FG, 40%
5-14 FT, 36%
65 rebounds, 2.8 RPG
19 assists, 0.8 APG
27 steals, 1.2 SPG
Jadelyn Dean, Medora, SR
142 total points, 10.1 PPG, Season-high 22 (14 games played)
48-134 FG, 36%
46-91 FT, 51%
100 rebounds,7.1 RPG
24 assists, 1.7 APG
20 steals, 1.4 SPG
16 blocks, 1.1 BPG
Kailen Flynn, Medora, FR
172 total points, 7.5 PPG, Season-high 16
56-192 FG, 29%
39-61 FT, 64%
91 rebounds, 4.0 RPG
42 assists, 1.8 APG
30 steals, 1.3 SPG
13 blocks, .06 BPG
Carley McCammon, Medora, SR
179 total points, 8.1 PPG, Season-high 21
55-258 FG, 21%
56-108 FT, 52%
121 rebounds, 5.5 RPG
15 assists, .07 APG
27 steals, 1.2 SPG
49 blocks, 2.2 BPG
Whitney Rogers, Trinity Lutheran, SO
135 total points, 5.6 PPG, Season-high 14
51-135 FG, 38%
29-36 FT, 81%
113 rebounds, 4.7 RPG
47 assists, 2.0 APG
38 steals, 1.6 SPG
7 blocks, 0.3 BPG
Piper Acton, Trinity Lutheran, SO
124 total points, 6.2 PPG, Season-high 12
34-126 FG, 27%
44-65 FT, 68%
84 rebounds, 4.2 RPG
16 assists, .08 APG
16 steals, .08 SPG
Jodi Goecker, Trinity Lutheran, SO
136 total points, 5.7 PPG, Season-high 18
34-157 FG, 22%
62-96 FT, 65%
62 rebounds, 2.6 RPG
35 assists, 1.5 APG
35 steals, 1.5 SPG
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“(Griffin) is unstoppable, and that’s the message we keep trying to send to her. She’s so hard to guard because she’s so versatile.”
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