Jennings County senior Juliann Woodard is The Republic Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She is pictured in the studio at The Republic in Columbus, Ind., Monday, Feb. 26, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
By her own admission, Juliann Woodard wasn’t a great basketball player growing up.
Woodard started playing in third grade in the Enter His Courts League in North Vernon, then played travel basketball for a team in Jennings County.
“I did not used to be very good in middle school, and I definitely improved I think the most the summer after my freshman year,” Woodard said. “I honestly didn’t think I was that great as a freshman and didn’t see my potential, but we got there in the end. I had a great AAU coach that helped me develop the tools that I needed for high school, and then I just continued to grow.”
She grew into one of the top players in the state. Woodard finished her high school career as Jennings County’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder and is this year’s Republic Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Earlier this month, the 6-foot post player became the third Panther girl and the first since 2002 to be named an Indiana All-Star.
“Honestly, I didn’t think they were reachable for me, but my junior season, I realized that they were very achievable and that I could get there,” Woodard said. “I just had to work harder and keep my head down and do my thing. I definitely set goals my junior season, and I’m very proud to say I’ve had those opportunities now.”
A Junior All-Star last year, Woodard didn’t slow down. She conditioned, lifted and put up shots every day either at the school or at the home of 2023 Jennings graduate Stella Millspaugh.
“I didn’t take many days off,” Woodard said. “I was always in the gym doing something and got stronger, got faster and just worked with the resources I had. (Travel team coach Danny Riego) helped me a lot, and so did (Jennings coach) Kristi (Sigler) and just being around all the girls made me want to get better.”
Woodard put together an even better senior season. She led the Panthers with 17.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
“I think I did my best and helped my team win, and our team rose to the occasion,” Woodard said. “We had a schedule built for challenges, and we faced those challenges. We had some ups and downs, but a lot of ups, and we faced adversity together and we got through it.”
Jennings went 23-4, including 6-0 in winning the Hoosier Hills Conference title. But one of those teams the Panthers beat during that HHC title run, Bedford North Lawrence, handed them a setback in the Floyd Central Sectional final to end their season.
“We had an unfortunate ending to our season,” Woodard said. “We beat ourselves. It just wasn’t going our way that night.”
Woodard entered high school as both a volleyball and basketball player. She gave up volleyball after her freshman year to focus on basketball, and her game took off from there.
“I thought it was the most fun out of the two,” Woodard said. “I did a lot of sports, but basketball seemed to stick with me. I just found love in it. There’s definitely some physical and mental challenges that I had to face, but I enjoyed the challenge.”
“We knew when she came in that she had a very high ceiling,” Sigler added. “After her freshman year, her confidence just grew. She was able to play some very good competition on the AAU circuit, and everyone saw how she was able to grow as a player, and she went to work.”
After playing for Larry Meade and Riego with Indiana Flight, Woodard played travel basketball for Riego with the West Virginia Thunder last offseason.
“She works hard,” Sigler said. “There’s not a day you question her work ethic. She’s never satisfied. She’s always working to improve. She understands the areas of her game that she needs to work on, and as she continues her career, she’ll develop her skills from the perimeter.”
Woodard finished with 62 double-doubles in 96 career games.
“She’s been phenomenal,” Sigler said. “Everything that she was able to accomplish, she made everyone around her better. Statistically, she had great numbers, but I think what says the most about her is, she and one of our other seniors (Cheyeanna Leslie) received the Teammate Award. So it shows what a good teammate she is, as well. Everyone looks up to her.”
The honors have been pouring in for Woodard. Along with the Indiana All-Star selection, she was named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Supreme 15 team.
Woodard finished fourth in the Miss Basketball voting.
“I’m happy with where I’m at,” Woodard said. “I think it just shows how hard I’ve worked and the hours and countless time I’ve spent in the gym. I’m competed against or with all the girls that were in the running for Miss Basketball, so it’s really cool to be there right next to my friends and competitors.”
Last summer, Woodard committed to play at Michigan State. She is thinking of majoring in business.
Woodard plans to leave for East Lansing in June to get to work with the Spartans.
“I want to make an impact where I can and just stick to my game and get some minutes as a freshman and do what I can,” Woodard said.
The 2023-24 Republic All-Area Girls Basketball team:
Juliann Woodard, Jennings County: The senior led the Panthers with 17.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
Alivia Elmore, Jennings County: The senior averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals.
Mollie Ernstes, Jennings County: The sophomore averaged 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals.
Madelyn Poe, Columbus East: The senior led the Olympians with 10.8 points and 1.9 assists and averaged 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals.
Messiah Trapp, Columbus East: The senior averaged 7.6 points and led the Olympians with 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
Jenna Guse, Columbus East: The senior averaged 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals.
Kaylie Harmon, Columbus North: The freshman led the Bull Dogs with 13.5 points and 2.4 assists and averaged 3.0 rebounds.
Miley McClellan, Columbus North: The sophomore averaged 10.3 points and led the Bull Dogs with 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 0.9 blocks.
Avery Johnson, Columbus North: The freshman averaged 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals.
Lexie Austin, Brown County: The senior led the Eagles with 16.0 points and added 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals.
Makayla Somers, South Decatur: The junior led the Cougars with 11.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks and averaged 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals.
Madison Keith, Trinity Lutheran: The junior led the Cougars with 15.2 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals.
Marley Warren, Trinity Lutheran: The freshman averaged 14.4 points and 4.5 rebounds and led the Cougars with 2.0 assists.
Liza Froedge, Trinity Lutheran: The senior averaged 12.3 points and 4.3 rebounds and led the Cougars with 1.1 blocks.
Honorable mention
Brown County: Anna Stogsdill, Ava Stogsdill. Columbus Christian: Emma Murray, Olivia Wise. Columbus East: Caroline Frost. Columbus North: Olivia Johnson. Edinburgh: Kenna Streeval, Kyah Streeval. Hauser: Norah Berkenstock, Bella Kilps. Jennings County: Avynn Belding, Maddie McIntosh. South Decatur: Kiley Best. Trinity Lutheran: Laura Roeder.
