Mollie Ernstes found herself in the top role for Jennings County this season.
The 5-foot-11 junior leaped to new heights this season and helped the Panthers approach the same success they had a year ago.
Ernstes was the one to fill the gaps from the losses of Indiana All-Star Juliann Woodard and Alivia Elmore last year. A few doubters may have thought Jennings couldn’t keep up the success from last year, but Ernstes stepped up and led the Panthers to a 15-8 record and a repeat Hoosier Hills Conference championship.
“We definitely exceeded not just my expectations but maybe theirs and everyone else’s. We did well for the stuff we went through and the adversity we fought through,” said Ernstes, The Republic Girls Basketball Player of the Year. “Not a lot of people thought we could do it after losing Juliann and Alivia, but we bounced back. We fought through the adversity and being back-to-back (conference champions) is always nice.”
Ernstes gave credit to Woodard and Elmore for leading the way for her.
“They definitely set the tone. They taught me a lot of the stuff now, especially going against Juliann freshman year in practice. She was always my partner, and it was rough sometimes, but she definitely made me better,” Ernstes said. “Alivia was out my freshman year, so she was a great leader on the sidelines, but when she came back, and it was us three on the court, it was great.”
Ernstes was the leading scorer this season for the Panthers at 22.1 per game. She also led the team in assists (2.7), steals (2.5) and blocks (1.1) per game.
Following the season, Ernstes was named All-HHC, Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association All-State, Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Underclass Large School All-State and an Indiana Junior All-Star.
“Mollie has put in the work. She’s absolutely put in the work just to improve continuously. It started last summer knowing this was her third year varsity. She knew we needed her to take on that role, and I thought she responded really well and had an outstanding season,” Jennings coach Kristi Sigler said. “She obviously led us in scoring, but I believe her leadership skills really developed over the course of the year, as well. She’s a fun kid to be around, and she had an outstanding year.”
Ernstes wants to play college basketball, but still has another season of high school and AAU to decide her future.
“It’s definitely my goal,” she said. “I’m still looking. I have another season of AAU, so I’m definitely going to take that opportunity to get more recruitment and see wherever feels right.”
Whether she plays basketball after college or not, she wants to be a recruiting coordinator wherever she decides to attend college.
“I definitely want to keep basketball in my life when I’m done playing, but the goal is to play after college, whether that’s overseas, a recruiting coordinator, an assistant coach at a college, I don’t know,” Ernstes said. “I still have time.”
Even though the Panthers were ousted by eventual Class 3A state runner-up Greensburg in the sectional final, Ernstes will look to change the outcome heading into next year.
“I think for me personally being a more vocal leader, not just a leader on the court, but in practice, off the court and in the locker room,” Ernstes said. “It’s guiding the younger players to want to get better and get in the gym when it’s not necessary, but you need to, and I think just helping my teammates set the mindset of what the goal should be.”
The 2024-25 Republic All-Area Girls Basketball team:
Mollie Ernstes, Jennings County: The junior led the Panthers with 22.1 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks and averaged 6.3 rebounds.
Etta Young, Jennings County: The junior led the Panthers with 6.7 rebounds and averaged 10.7 points, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals.
Maddie McIntosh, Jennings County: The senior averaged 7.7 points,2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 rebounds.
Kaylie Harmon, Columbus North: The sophomore led the Bull Dogs with 14.0 points and 3.2 assists and averaged 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
Hadassah Hurt, Columbus North: The senior averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Avery Johnson, Columbus North: The sophomore averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.7 steals.
Kimberly Carothers, Columbus East: The senior led the Olympians with 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds and averaged 1.4 assists.
Norah Berkenstock, Hauser: The senior led the Jets with 10.7 points 2.6 assists and 3.2 steals and averaged 1.9 rebounds.
Makayla Somers, South Decatur: The senior led the Cougars with 12.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks and averaged 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals.
Taylor Somers, South Decatur: The sophomore averaged 7.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals.
Kenna Streeval, Edinburgh: The junior led the Lancers with 14.6 points 3.5 assists and 3.4 steals and averaged 4.5 rebounds.
Ava Stogsdill, Brown County: The junior led the Eagles with 16.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.0 steals and averaged 1.5 assists.
Marley Warren, Trinity Lutheran: The sophomore led the Cougars with 15.0 points and averaged 2.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals.
Emma Murray, Columbus Christian: The junior led the Crusaders with 13.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks and averaged 2.3 steals.
Honorable mention
Brown County: Zoe Jackson. Columbus Christian: Olivia Wise. Columbus East: Ella Anthis, Kenzie Cheek. Columbus North: Kenna Conrad. Edinburgh: Kinzie Purvis. Hauser: June Berkenstock. Jennings County: Riley Byford. South Decatur: Paige McQueen, Makayla Puckett. Trinity Lutheran: Rachel Bonde, Madison Keith, Laura Roeder.
