Lucas' Shelby Grover earns OPSWA Northwest District Player of the Year in Division IV

FINDLAY — They say you can't miss what you never had.

Well, the Lucas girls basketball team both had and missed a special player during the 2022-23 season. Senior Shelby Grover, the newly minted Division IV Northwest District Player of the Year as announced by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association, missed the first half of the season with fractures in her ankle suffered during volleyball season.

The Cubs went 1-8 without Grover in the lineup before she returned to lead her team to an 8-4 finish down the stretch of the regular season. The Cubs won a tournament game over Plymouth as well to finish the year 10-13. Grover scored 22 points and added 9.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during her senior season. She shared the District Player of the Year award with Kendall Braden of Toledo Christian.

Grover is guaranteed an All-Ohio spot, making it the third honor of her career.

She was joined on the list by Mansfield Christian's Alexis Rippel, who earned second-team honors and will be up for All-Ohio consideration. Rippel averaged 17.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a senior.

Mansfield Christian's Kyleah Jones and Abby Little joined Plymouth's Destiny Detillion and Jaylin Branham and Lucas' Katie Griffey as honorable mention All-Northwest District players.

Here is the complete list of All-Northwest District honorees in Division IV.

OHIO PREP SPORTSWRITERS ASSOCIATION DIVISION IV ALL-NORTHWEST DISTRICT

FIRST TEAM: Kendall Braden, Toledo Christian, 5-8, jr., 22.4; Mackenzie Royal-Davis, Toledo Christian, 6-0, jr., 15.4; Shelby Grover, Lucas, 5-9, sr., 22.0; Sage Woolace, Stryker, 5-3, sr., 17.9; Carlie Foos, Kansas Lakota, 5-5, sr., 13.4; Cali Gregory, Convoy Crestview, 5-10, jr., 20.3; Macey Bader, Elmore Woodmore, 5-4, sr., 16.2; Whitney Langhals, Leipsic, 5-5, sr., 14.2; Ryley Kantzer, New Washington Buckeye Central, 5-7, sr., 10.0; Avae Unrast, Maria Stein Marion Local, 5-6, so., 10.8; Emilee Rowland, New London, 5-10, jr., 11.7.

SECOND TEAM: Grace Lamoreaux, Greenwich South Central, 5-8, jr., 10.6; Ally Schindler, Defiance Ayersville, 5-10, jr., 13.2; Libbie Baker, West Unity Hilltop, 6-1, so., 20.7; Ada Christman, Hamler Patrick Henry, 6-0, fr., 8.9; Alyssa Rishty, Tiffin Calvert, 5-9, so., 17.9; Emily Klopp, Sycamore Mohawk, 6-3, sr., 14.0; Lauryn Auchmuty, Columbus Grove, 5-7, so., 17.2; Ady Stewart, Carey, 5-8, sr., 12.7; Chloe Homan, New Bremen, 6-0, jr., 12.5; Alexis Rippel, Mansfield Christian, 5-9, sr., 17.9; Kate Siesel, New Washington Buckeye Central, 5-6, sr., 14.0.

THIRD TEAM: Aewyn McMichael, Antwerp, 5-5, jr., 14.8; Kelaysia Harris, Toledo Maumee Valley, 5-9, so., 14.6; Olivia Bishop, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon, 5-9, so., 12.0; Cassidy Foos, Kansas Lakota, 5-8, jr., 10.0; Camille Hovest, Klaida, 5-9, sr., 11.6; Courtney Sumner, Ada, 5-5, sr., 16.0; Maria Maringer, Lakeside Danbury, 5-5, jr., 11.4; Mariah Bonham, Mt. Blanchard Riverdale, 5-9, so., 15.5; Paige McVetta, Cory-Rawson, 5-6, sr., 15.1; Lilly Barhorst, Minster, 5-11, jr., 10.7; Lindsey Koenig, Maria Stein Marion Local, 5-10, sr., 9.6.

Players of the Year: Shelby Grover, Lucas; Kendall Braden, Toledo Christian.

Coaches of the Year: Gary Kreinbrink, Leipsic; Abram Kaple, New Washington Buckeye Central; Erin Foos, Kansas Lakota; Justin Sonnenberg, Hamler Patrick Henry.

Honorable mention: Kyleah Jones, Mansfield Christian; Carys Crossland, Hamler Patrick Henry; Kayla Butler, Toledo Christian; Emma Gregg, Kansas Lakota; Carley Coffman, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon; Mackenzie Fortney, Old Fort; Olivia Stolly, Lima Central Catholic; Erica Thorbahn, Ottoville; Bryn Tegenkamp, Continental; Jaz Morant, Gibsonburg; Kamil Stephens, Lakeside Danbury; Ava Henry, Leipsic; Bella Wilson, Dole Hardin Northern; Emily Rank, Arcadia; Julia Brodman, Carey; Sydney Wurm, New Washington Buckeye Central; Kennedy Deppen, New Washington Buckeye Central; Marina Nelson, New Bremen; Molly Wendel, St. Henry; Destiny Detillion, Plymouth; Abby Little, Mansfield Christian; Katie Griffey, Lucas; Jaylin Branham, Plymouth; Alyssa Henry, New London; Kendyl Beverly, Greenwich South Central; Angela Williams, Greenwich South Central; Grace Stieber, Monroeville; Molly Ridge, Norwalk St. Paul; Ellie Grieser, Pettisville; Lexa Schuller, Holgate; Alivia Farnham, Edgerton; Asia Brown, Oregon Cardinal Stritch; Katie Dryfuse, New Riegel, Ryen Smith, Old Fort, Joleigh Hamilton, Sycamore Mohawk; Laci McCoy, Convoy Crestview; Jaylen Sautter, Columbus Grove; Maggie Pothast, Fort Jennings; Grace Pfau, Miller City; Emma Martin, Dola Hardin Northern; Bella Wilson, Dola Hardin Northern; Khaliah Luster, Lima Perry; Tatelyn Faraglia, Waynesfield-Goshen; Raegan Hutchison, Waynesfield-Goshen; Isabella Furley, Ottoville; Maddie Militello, Fremont St. Joseph; Ava Henry, Leipsic; Mara Simon, Vanlue; Olivia Secord, Vanlue; Brooklyn Smith, Arlington; Madison Schroeder, McComb; Makayla Gillfillan, Cory-Rawson; Lydia Dehart, McComb; Chelcie McVetta, Cory-Rawson; Morgan McVetta, Cory-Rawson; Madalyn Engler, Crestline; Kennedi Sipes, Crestline; Chloe Ronnebaum, Maria SteinMarion Local; Kaycie Albers, Minster; Katie McClurg, Minster; Abi Powers, New Bremen; Lauren Wingler, New Knoxville; Jalynn Everman, St. Henry; Leah Lefeld, St. Henry; Kyleah Jones, Mansfield Christian; Carys Crossland, Hamler Patrick Henry; Kaylona Butler, Toledo Christian; Emma Gregg, Kansas Lakota; Carley Coffman, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon; Mackenzie Fortney, Old Fort; Olivia Stolly, Lima Central Catholic; Erica Thorbahn, Ottoville; Bryn Tegenkamp, Continental; Jaz Morant, Gibsonburg; Ava Henry, Leipsic; Kamil Stephens, Lakeside Danbury; Emily Rank, Arcadia; Julia Brodman, Carey; Sydney Wurm, New Washington Buckeye Central; Kennedy Deppen, New Washington Buckeye Central; Marina Nelson, New Bremen; Molly Wendel, St. Henry.

jfurr@gannett.com

740-244-9934

Twitter: @JakeFurr11

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Lucas' Shelby Grover earned OPSWA Northwest District Player of the Year in Division IV