Columbus East’s Saige Stahl brings the ball down the court against East Central in the first round of the sectional at Shelbyville on Jan. 31, 2023.
Saige Stahl isn’t finished with high school basketball just yet.
Before heading to Indiana State to continue with basketball, the recent Columbus East graduate will be playing in three separate games for the Indiana All-Stars this week. On Wednesday, they’ll play against the Junior All-Stars at 6 p.m. at Cathedral. On Friday, they’ll play against the senior Kentucky All-Stars at 6:30 p.m. in Owensboro, Kentucky, and on Saturday, they’ll play the Kentucky All-Stars again at 5 p.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“I’m definitely getting anxious. It came really fast, and I’ve been happening to work out and get prepared just because they know it’s a big event coming up,” Stahl said.
Stahl will be heading to Marian University today to practice with the team. The Indiana All-Stars will be staying in the dorms on campus for the duration of the All-Star festivities. They hold practices a couple times a day while at Marian. Stahl mentioned that they practiced once prior as a team about a month ago for a few hours at Triton Central.
When Stahl played in the Hoosier Gym Classic earlier this spring at the historic Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, she got to meet fellow Indiana All-Star and future Sycamore teammate Asia Donald for the first time.
“We’ve been able to talk for a little bit, and it’s been nice. It’ll be nice knowing someone going into July when we have to go to Indiana State,” Stahl said.
Stahl has kept herself busy so far since the end of school. She recently received her diploma and had her graduation open house a little over a week ago.
Once the All-Star festivities wind down, Stahl will have some rest and relaxation while spending time with family before she heads to Terre Haute on July 5 to be with her Indiana State team. While getting settled in, she will be staying in an apartment with her Sycamore teammates. She’ll return back home for a couple weeks beginning Aug. 4 until it is time for move-in for the fall semester.
As a senior for the Olympians, Stahl was named MVP of the team, won the Olympian Award and was named Most Improved. She was selected to the 2023 Indiana Basketball Coaches Association/Franciscan Health Girls Senior All-State Supreme 15, the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association All-State first team, All-Hoosier Hills Conference and was The Republic Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
While her playing time has come to an end at East, Stahl is ready to open up the next chapter of her life and basketball at Indiana State.
“It’s definitely exciting. I’m a little bit nervous just that I’m going to have to adjust to how they play, but I’m excited to get to play ball with some really talented girls, and I’m ready,” Stahl said. “I actually really miss it. I miss playing at East, but I’m ready for something new.”
