MEDORA — Medora Junior-Senior High School volleyball and basketball players were honored when the school held its athletic awards ceremony Wednesday night.

Jenna Bowers received the volleyball hitting and serving awards and was named to the all-Southern Roads Conference volleyball team.

Laykin Hinderlider received the setting award and was named all-conference honorable mention, and Haylee Sons received the mental attitude award and also was named all-conference honorable mention.

Junior high coach Laysha McKinney presented the varsity volleyball special awards, introduced other members of the team and also presented the middle school volleyball awards.

Girls basketball coach Roger Bane presented the varsity awards, and Bowers was named most valuable player and received five other plaques.

Bowers set the school single-game scoring record with 42 points against Bloomington Lighthouse. She also scored 37 against Crothersville and Lighthouse and 35 points against Seven Oaks. She scored 287 points in 19 games for an average of 15.1 per game.

Bowers also received the steals, free throw and two-point shooting awards. She shot 32.7% from 2-point land, 63.7% on free throws and averaged 3.37 steals per game. She also was named first team all-conference.

Aaralyn Hackney received the 3-point award and was named to the all-Southern Roads first team. She averaged 23.8% on 3-pointers.

Hackney was second on the team in scoring with 208 points for an average of 10.9 per game. Her high games were 25 against Union Dugger, 19 against Anderson Prep and 18 against Madison Christian and Bloomington Lighthouse.

Madison Reece received the most improved trophy, and Brelee Underwood received the rebound award for averaging 5.9 rebounds per game.

Medora had a team for the first time since the 2019-20 season and had a record of 4-15.

Bane said at the start of the season, he and the team set three goals: Play 100% for 32 minutes, win the conference and improve every game.

He said he gave the team an A-minus in all three areas. They finished second in the conference.

All of the players will be returning, as there weren’t any seniors on the team.

Boys basketball head coach Mark Morin said his team began preparing for this season last May, and their hard work paid off, resulting in a record of 10-13. That’s the most wins for Medora since the 2013-14 team went 8-13 and the 2014-15 team went 8-16. Medora won nine games in 1995-96.

Seniors Shepard Earl and Braxton McCory both received multiple awards.

Earl received a plaque for topping the 1,000-point mark for his career, and he finished with 1,033 points.

This season, he scored 283 points in 22 games for an average of 12.9 per game. His high games were 27 against Shawe Memorial, 23 against Columbus Christian and 20 against Trinity Lutheran.

Earl also received the field goal shooting and rebound awards.

McCory received the free throw, 3-point and mental attitude awards and an academic award.

McCory and Earl were both named to the all-conference team.

Eli Sturgill received the defensive award, Hudson Johnson was named most improved and Jaxon Nugen was the recipient of the assist award.

Morin gave special recognition to the three seniors: Earl, McCory and Sturgill.

“They all played varsity for four years, and I’m glad to see them help turn things around. They’re great guys. Braxton was the driving force behind our success,” he said.

JV basketball coach Dave Persinger said his team had a record of 10-4.

He presented the JV free throw award to Eli Lane, the most improved award to Kacie Inscoe and the mental attitude award to Kade Wright.

McCory and Sturgill also were introduced for playing varsity golf this spring.

Medora Athletic Director Cody Martin thanked the parents for their support and said, “It has been a great year.”

J.D. Fish, coach of the seventh and eighth grade boys basketball team, presented the junior high and elementary awards.

Junior high/elementary school awards

Volleyball

Most improved: Josie Bowers

Serving: Lily Hatchett

Mental attitude: Gracie Hatchett

Junior high basketball

Most improved: Zach Day

Mental attitude: Dalton Kessner

Free throw: Daulton Hineman

Elementary basketball

Most improved: Jaylex Slick

Mental attitude: Gracie Hatchett

Free throws: Damian Root