Clermont County had six girls from five schools named to the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Southwest All-District team.
In Division I, Amelia’s Kymmy Simon and Milford’s Morgan Wolcott were named to the First Team All-District.
Simon, a senior, averaged 16.9 points per game, 4.4 rebounds and 3 steals.
“Kymmy is obviously been the offensive leader for our team for the last two years,” Amelia head coach Tara Kaiser said. “She’s been a role model both in life and on the basketball court. She works hard in practice and in the games. She’s relentless.
“Whether she scores 10 points or 25 points, you know you’re going to get everything from Kymmy, that’s just the kind of kid she is.”
For Wolcott, who will be attending the Ohio State University in the fall to play soccer, she averaged 16.6 points per game, 9.6 rebounds and 4.1 steals as a Lady Eagle. Milford coach Kristi McKenney called Wolcott a “once in a lifetime player.”
“She’s meant a lot to Milford as a whole,” McKenney said. “She’s probably one of the best athletes to come out of the school in a while. Her love of the game, whether it be basketball or soccer or track, she’s one of the most competitive girls I’ve ever met.
“She just has a presence on the court that makes everyone around her better. The younger girls really look up to her. She’s become a vocal leader this year and it’s going to be hard to replace her next year.”
In Division II, Clermont County had two players named to the First Team and two more named to the Second Team All-District.
Heading up the first team are a pair of underclassmen: Batavia’s freshman guard Samantha McElfresh and New Richmond’s sophomore center Josie Buckingham.
McElfresh averaged 12.6 points per game, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals in her injury-shortened first season.
“Samantha led our team in scoring, but was unable to play in eight games this season (due to strengthening issues with an ACL tear last year),” Batavia coach Beth Wolfer said. “When she’s on the floor, our team plays so much better. She hustles and sees the floor very well. We depend on her for scoring and overall, we play a lot better with her.”
As for Buckingham, the 6-foot-5 sophomore averaged 15.9 points per game, 10.3 rebounds and 5.5 blocks. New Richmond coach Brad Hatfield called her the most dominant player in the Southern Buckeye Conference.
“She can take over both ends of the floor,” he said. “You know what you’re going to get from her, more than 10 rebounds, more than 10 points. She’s a real weapon to have whenever she’s on the floor, you know your team has a chance to win.”
New Richmond senior Sarah Shoemaker and Goshen senior Kelsi Steele were named to the Second Team All-District.
Shoemaker averaged 8.4 points per game, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals.
“Sarah Shoemaker meant as much as anybody in turning our program around,” Hatfield said. “She ended her career starting 67 games in a row. She was a three-year starter and two-time league all star. She was a tremendous perimeter defender and led by example. She’s everything you want in a student-athlete.”
Steele rounded out the award winners. She averaged 9.8 points per game, 2.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals.
“Our seniors were unbelievable,” Goshen coach Dave Mason said. “What she means to the team and the seniors as a whole, what they mean to the school, they are just a great group. The younger class gets a chance to see what leadership is.”
