Columbus East’s Saige Stahl shoots over Jeffersonville’s Elle Marble Saturday in the Orange Pit at Columbus East High School.
The Republic file photo
Saige Stahl was in the air between Florida and Indiana on Friday morning when the Indiana Junior All-Star team was released.
So when the Columbus East junior landed in Indianapolis, her phone was blowing up with text messages congratulating her on making the squad.
“When I turned my phone off Airplane mode, it was going off,” Stahl said. “(East head) Coach (Danny) Brown and (assistant) coach (Kylie Weichman) texted me and told me ‘Congratulations.’ That’s how I found out.”
As is the case in most years, the Indiana Junior All-Stars consist of six Core Group players, along with six players from the central and northern parts of the state and six from the central and southern parts of the state. The six from the central and southern part, named the “Red” Group, will join the Core Group to play the Kentucky All-Stars June 5 at Bedford North Lawrence, and a “Blue” Group will play the Indiana Senior All-Stars June 8 at a site to be determined.
The Indiana and Kentucky Senior All-Stars will meet June 10 in Owensboro, Kentucky, and June 11 at Southport.
The Junior All-Star Core Group includes Laila Hull of Zionsville, McKenna Layden of Northwestern, Karsyn Norman of Bedford North Lawrence, Ashlynn Shade of Noblesville and RaShunda Jones and Amiyah Reynolds of South Bend Washington. The Red Group consists of Stahl, Asiah Baxter of Warren Central, Riley Makalusky of Hamilton Southeastern, Hailey Smith of Fishers, Josie Trabel of East Central and Amber Tretter of Forest Park.
Saige Stahl
“I had heard about it, and it definitely was a goal,” Stahl said. “It was kind of up in the air as to whether I was going to make it or not. I honestly didn’t know if I would or I wouldn’t, but I’m grateful that I did. It was a nice surprise. That’s for sure.”
Stahl led the Olympians with 17.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals and added 1.9 assists per game this season, helping lead them to a second consecutive Hoosier Hills Conference title.
This offseason, Stahl is playing travel basketball with the Nike Gym Rats. Now, she has another set of teammates to look forward to joining with the Junior All-Stars.
“I hope that it brings more opportunities,” Stahl said. “My travel coach already contacted me saying some colleges have reached out, and he wanted to see film of me. I’m super excited to play with the other Junior All-Stars, and I’m super excited for AAU season.”
