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.
The Republic file photo
Columbus East senior Saige Stahl has further etched her name as one of the top best basketball players in school history.
Stahl was announced as an Indiana All-Star Tuesday, joining three other former Olympians in having that prestigious honor.
Stahl becomes the fourth girls basketball player and first in 16 years at the school, joining Shelby Ross in 2007, Allison (Lee) White in 1994 and 1980 Miss Basketball Maria Stack. Stahl is the first Indiana All-Star from Bartholomew County since Columbus North’s Maliah Howard-Bass in 2017.
Stahl learned the news late last week right before she headed to London for Spring Break.
“To actually see my name on the list of the best girls in the state, it’s definitely unreal, and I’m extremely happy. It’s something I’ve worked for this whole time,” Stahl said. “As a little girl, knowing that I did this, it’s awesome. It’s everything I’ve ever worked for. It showed that my hard work paid off. I’m extremely excited, I’m grateful and I’m blessed, and I honestly never thought that I would be where I’m at today.”
Stahl and the Indiana All-Stars will take on the Kentucky All-Stars in a game at 6:30 p.m. June 9 at the Owensboro Sportscenter in Owensboro, Kentucky, and then at 5 p.m. June 10 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Stahl led the Olympians with 26.0 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game this season.
Being an Indiana All-Star is the top of many awards Stahl has received this postseason. 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 and All-Hoosier Hills Conference. She also participated in the Hoosier Basketball Magazine Girls Top 60 Senior Workout at Beech Grove earlier this month.
As much as it is surreal for Stahl to be selected, the moment will become a reality when she steps onto the court to check in for the first time.
“It’s definitely an honor to have little girls watching me, and being a role model, that could be the best feeling in the world knowing I’m there with the best players in the state,” Stahl said. “To be on the court playing in front of a bunch of people in an Indiana All-Star jersey, it feels like I made it. To get my jersey on the wall at East, I think that is something I’m really looking forward to.”
