They play the same sport, but they are built totally physically differently, so just a casual encounter might not make that obvious.
But one thing Trinity Lutheran’s Sydney Jaynes and Brownstown Central’s Katherina Benter have in common that helps them excel on the basketball court is how they use their heads.
Each player averaged around 20 points a game this winter, and each helped lead her team to an IHSAA sectional title. They did so with physical skill and leadership and by making smart decisions on the court.
Jaynes and Benter have been selected as The Tribune’s girls All-County co-Players of the Year for the 2020-21 season.
Both have received numerous honors on the local and state level, and both intend to play college basketball, Jaynes at Butler and Benter at Hanover.
“Syd was one of the hardest working players,” said Trinity coach Mike Lang. “It’s the stuff people don’t see. She does it on a consistent basis.”
Although the 6-foot-3 center was the object of double teams, Jaynes also made her mark as a passer with 347 career assists. Lang said Jaynes’ unselfishness stood out as Trinity built a 20-5 record.
“Never once did she walk out of a locker room and say, ‘I scored this many points,’” Lang said. “It was always team first. Syd is a player on the court who makes everyone better.”
Even though the high school season has ended, Jaynes continues to work out regularly, both in anticipation of her college days and for her upcoming appearances with the Indiana All-Stars.
“It takes a special person to have that drive,” Lang said.
Jaynes finished as Trinity Lutheran’s all-time leading scorer with 1,598 points.
Benter, a 5-8 guard who earlier this week was chosen girls first-team Academic All-State, comes from a basketball family. Her father, Dave, is the Brownstown boys coach, and her younger brother, Jack, is a star on the boys team.
Benter was a do-everything player on the court, scoring, rebounding, passing and running the offense. On a team that lost several starters, Benter helped mold a new group into a success story.
“I never would have thought we would have been 19-7,” Benter said. “It’s definitely something we’ll look back on.”
Although it was not widely advertised, Brownstown coach Brandon Allman said Benter’s season was even more remarkable because she played at a high level while nursing an injured left knee.
“It was not enough to sideline her,” Allman said. “I don’t think she would have let anything sideline her. That’s her in a nutshell. She has a really tough makeup.”
Benter’s work ethic was notable, Allman said, and her improvement could be charted steadily over her high school days.
“In every detail, she has made herself stronger,” Allman said.
Benter, who finished with 1,311 points overall, second on the school’s record list, averaged 21.1 points a game this season and set a Braves record of 548 points in a single season.
Coaches at Seymour, Brownstown Central, Trinity Lutheran and Crothesrville nominated players for consideration. Medora did not field a girls team this season. Some female players suited up for the boys team.
Joining Jaynes and Benter as All-County selections and standing out was Trinity’s Bailey Tabeling, the sophomore guard who in a rare feat has already gone over 1,000 career points. Tabeling averaged 19.6 points, 4.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game.
Other All-County choices are Seymour’s Grace Meyer, the senior who topped 1,000 points in her career, and senior Alyssa Perry, who led the Owls in assists two straight years and whom coach Jason Longmeier called “one of the better defensive players in the Hoosier Hills Conference.” Also, center Grace Schrader, second on the team in points and rebounds, and forward Kendall Sterling, who excelled statistically.
Brownstown’s Maddy Hackman, who averaged 10.9 points per game, already owns the school record for three-pointers two seasons into her career. “Best shooter in the county,” Allman said.
Also for Trinity, guard Kailene Cockerham, who averaged 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game in an all-around showing supporting Jaynes and Tabeling as the primary scorers.
Although COVID-19 was an issue for all teams around the state, including Seymour, which had to quarantine at one point, no local squad faced more combined virus and injury adversity as Crothersville.
The team was sidelined for weeks at a time because of quarantine and had to rush to make up games. Plus, star Addy Cole missed three-quarters of the season recovering from a knee injury.
Senior Grace Wilson (11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists) and junior Kennadi Lakins (10.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals) stood out the most for the Tigers for the largest part of the season.
Wilson, said coach Kevin Hensley, “took the pressure we put on her and helped us be very competitive with her athleticism.” Lakins, he said, “did everything for us this year as you can see by her stats.”
Honorable Mention All-County
Emma Klinge, Kalee Borden, Brownstown Central; Addy Cole, Zoe Spangler, Crothersville: Liza Froedge, Trinity Lutheran