North basketball standout to play for Junior All-Stars
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Since beginning her high school basketball career, Tayler Goodall has had a goal of playing for the Indiana Junior All-Stars and subsequently the Indiana All-Stars as a senior.
The Columbus North junior achieved the first of those objectives this week when she was selected to the Core Six for the 2013 Junior All-Star squad. A 22-member panel selected six core juniors, along with a North Six and a South Six.
“I’ve always wanted to play on the All-Star team,” Goodall said. “I worked so hard, but I didn’t automatically expect to make it, so I was surprised, but excited at the same time. I definitely just wanted to make any team, but making the Core Six is definitely an honor.”
Goodall and sophomore teammate Ali Patberg also were selected to the 15-player Underclass All-State team. North junior Kelsey Cunningham, Columbus East junior Allyson Bunch and Brown County junior Whitney Williamson are honorable-mention underclass selections. East’s Mikala Lomax, Brown County’s Sasha Robinson, Edinburgh’s Jennifer Stinson and Seymour’s Brianna Gillaspy are honorable mention senior selections.
The Indiana Junior All-Stars will play the Kentucky Junior All-Stars on June 7 and June 8 at sites to be determined. They also will play two games against the Indiana All-Stars, with sites and dates to be determined.
“I was really excited, and I’m looking forward to getting to play and represent the state,” Goodall said. “I’m also looking forward to getting to play with the other five girls on the Core 6 team. There’s a lot of great players that I’m going to be getting to play with.”
Goodall averaged 13.8 points and 2.6 assists a game this season and led the 25-1 Bull Dogs with 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 steals. The 5-foot-9 guard shot team-bests of 42.9 percent from 3-point range and 86.1 percent from the free-throw line.
“I think it’s a terrific honor for her,” North coach Pat McKee said. “She had a very good year. She improved in virtually every category, and her efficiency was much improved this year.
“The thing that doesn’t show up in the stats is that her defense was significantly better,” he said. “She was good before, but she was stronger this year. She was guarding tougher opponents and did a terrific job. Her all-around game is continuing to improve in many ways, and we’re thrilled with the progress that she’s shown.”
Goodall has received several Division I offers and has shown the most interest in Florida Gulf Coast. She was back in the gym two days after North’s regional semifinal loss to eventual state champion Bedford North Lawrence working on her game and putting up 1,000 shots a day.
“I’ve been working out at the gym and running and doing ball-handling drills by myself every day,” Goodall said. “I’m usually in the gym a couple hours every day. I’m definitely trying to get better every day and not take a day off. I’m just trying to be the best that I can be.”
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