Nine girls basketball players in Jackson County averaged double-digit points per game this past season, and across five teams, there were a combined eight postseason victories.

It was a successful season on the hardwood this past winter, making for a stacked all-county team.

Leading the way on that front is Trinity Lutheran senior Bailey Tabeling, who was named The Tribune’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the second straight season.

Tabeling helped lead Trinity to a fourth straight sectional championship, the school’s first regional championship and a semistate appearance.

“Anything that has to do with making school history is big,” Tabeling said. “I think being able to do it with the girls on the team, that made it even more special. We created a bond, and they were like little sisters to me. It was a good year. It was a really good year.”

Tabeling also led the Cougars in scoring with 22.2 points per game. She also averaged eight rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.7 blocks per game.

For her career, Tabeling set the Trinity school record and Jackson County record with points scored with 2,266 all time. She also had a school record 462 assists in four years.

“It feels good that I’ve been able to accomplish all that stuff, but I want Trinity to have another girl that can come through and demolish my records,” Tabeling said.

When Tabeling looks back at her senior campaign, she was proud of the way her team was able to compete.

She was happy to be a big part of winning sectional titles in every year of her Cougar career.

“I think winning sectionals any time, whether it’s your first year or fourth year, is a big thing,” she said. “It gets you going for postseason play. The one this year, we wanted that sectional win. We came out against Shawe and we had a lead on them and we never let up. Then we came out there against Rising Sun, and we got that lead and never let up.”

In the regional, Tabeling recalls the Springs Valley student section counting their missed shots in pregame warmups.

Tabeling still remembers the number: 101. She doesn’t think her team had missed that many shots in pregame all year.

“We were not shooting very good. Then the game started. We hit our first four or five threes,” she said. “Once we got going and got that lead, we never let up.”

In three of the four years that Tabeling’s Trinity teams got knocked out in the postseason, the team that beat the Cougars went on to win the Class A state championship.

That was the case this past year as Trinity fell to Lanesville in the semistate semifinal. The Cougars played the Eagles tight but didn’t have enough in the tank to slay the giant. Tabeling was proud of the way her team fought in the game.

“We played them hard the whole game, but they are a really good team,” she said. “It was definitely frustrating when you can’t get your points to help the team.”

When that loss to Lanesville occurred, Tabeling was definitely sad saying goodbye to all of her teammates she grew close with, but one positive for the senior is her basketball career wasn’t over.

This fall, Tabeling will be a member of the Ohio University women’s basketball team.

She truly left her mark in Jackson County with the Cougars, and she can’t wait to get her next chapter started.

“I’m really excited,” Tabeling said. “For some girls, that’s all they have is their high school career. I was sad for a little bit (after the season ended), but then I realized I get to go on in college, so that’s huge. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to go somewhere and play basketball.”

Remaining members of the all-county team

Kendall Sterling, Jr., Seymour: 14.4 points per game, school record 110 assists, all-Hoosier Hills Conference.

Maddy Hackman, Sr., Brownstown Central: 12.9 points per game, all-Mid-Southern Conference, team co-MVP winner.

Kalee Borden, Sr., Brownstown Central: 10.3 points per game, all-MSC, team co-MVP winner.

Brooke Trinkle, Sr., Seymour: 11.6 points per game, single-game school record for 3-pointers made (seven), all-HHC, team coach’s award winner.

Madison Keith, So., Trinity Lutheran: 11.9 points per game, 9.0 rebounds, team Cougar Award winner.

Jenna Bowers, Jr., Medora: 13.8 points per game, single-game school record for points scored (42).

Journee Brown, Jr., Seymour: 9.8 points per game, led team in rebounds with 142.

Jenna Klosterman, So., Brownstown Central: 6.2 points per game.

Liza Froedge, Jr., Trinity Lutheran: 10.3 points per game, 3.9 rebounds.

Greer Henry, So., Seymour: 4.5 points per game, team Scrapper Award winner.

Camryn Thompson, Sr., Brownstown Central: led team with 46 FG%, team best defender award winner.

Jordan Brewer, So., Trinity Lutheran: 10.2 points per game, 3.0 rebounds.