Eastern Hancock head coach Shari Doud reacts in the closing seconds of her team’s win against Indianapolis Cathedral.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — All-stars, multi-sport standouts and a coach that is leaving on a high note highlight the 2024 Daily Reporter All-Hancock County girls basketball team.
Eastern Hancock girls basketball head coach Shari Doud is the county coach of the year.
Doud, who retired from high school head coaching after the season, led the Royals to their best season in school history.
Eastern Hancock won a regional title for the second straight year and got one game further in 2024, reaching the Class 2A Final Four, the semi-state title game.
The Royals went 25-2 on the year, the most wins in school history.
Here’s a look at the 2024 all-county team:
First team
Allie Blum, New Palestine
A senior multi-sport star for the Dragons, Blum, a Division I recruit in softball (Kentucky), had her best season on the hardwood in her senior year.
She averaged 17.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game along with 3.6 steals per contest, helping lead the Dragons to a Hoosier Heritage Conference title. Blum scored 36 points against Warren Central and had eight 20-plus scoring games. She was selected Indiana Basketball Coaches Senior All-State honorable mention and was named to the All-HHC team.
Sammie Bolding, Eastern Hancock
Another multi-sport star at her school, the senior guard averaged 13.6 points, 2.4 steals, 2.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game and made 53 3-pointers.
Like Blum, a Division I softball recruit (Toledo), Bolding was a key contributor in leading the Royals to back-to-back regional titles and a Class 2A Final Four berth in 2024. She scored a season-high 25 points in a crucial first-round sectional victory over a talented Triton Central club.
Bolding was selected IBCA Senior All-State honorable mention and All-Mid-Eastern Conference.
Kenzie Koch, Eastern Hancock
Only a freshman, Koch, the Daily Reporter Hancock County Player of the Year, had a phenomenal rookie season for the Royals.
She averaged a county-best 18.4 points per game, grabbed 4.6 rebounds from her point guard spot and added 2.9 assists and 2.8 steals per game. An IBCA Underclassmen Small School All-State selection and member of the All-MEC team, Koch is already getting interest from Division I women’s basketball programs.
In just her second high school game, Koch recorded a season-best 28 points and added eight rebounds and five assists in a victory over Rushville.
Ellery Minch, Mt. Vernon
The four-year starter headed to DePaul University helped lead her team to four straight sectional titles.
A member of the Indiana Senior All-Star squad and selected to the IBCA Senior “Supreme 15” and All-HHC teams, Minch averaged 14.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals.
The 6-3 forward had 16 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, two assists and one steal in the sectional championship game victory over rival New Palestine.
Madison Sonsini, Greenfield-Central
In her first year with the Cougars after moving to Greenfield from Richmond, the 6-foot junior had a big season in 2023-24.
An All-HHC choice and IBCA Underclassmen All-State honorable mention selection, Sonsini averaged 14.6 points and 9.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 blocks per game.
Sonsini, also a standout middle hitter in volleyball, had 10 double-doubles, including a 17-point, 14-rebound game in her G-C debut in a win over Greenwood.
Second team
Chaney Brown, Greenfield-Central
Like teammate Sonsini, Brown was selected IBCA Underclassmen All-State honorable mention. The versatile 5-9 junior averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals per contest. A consistent player, Brown scored in double figures in 21 of 24 games.
She scored 21 points twice in a game (vs. Delta and Franklin Central) and grabbed 16 rebounds, to go with 13 points, in a win over Connersville.
Kanyonrae Kenny, Mt. Vernon
The junior guard averaged 7.4 points, led the team with a 2.2 steals per game mark and was second on the club in rebounds, averaging 4.4 per contest.
She played one of her best games of the season in the regional title contest against eventual state champion Lawrence Central. Kenny scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had two assists and one steal.
Vivian Miller, New Palestine
Like her teammate Blum, Miller jumped right from a successful soccer season in the fall to help lead the Dragons to an HHC basketball title.
Miller averaged 11.2 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, an HHC-leading 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per contest. She was named to the All-HHC team.
She scored a career-high 25 points in a crucial HHC victory over Pendleton Heights.
Easton Wampler, Mt. Vernon
A three-sport standout for the Marauders, Wampler averaged 7.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, a team-best 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
She made 53 3-point field goals, most in the HHC, and was selected to the All-HHC team. She made five 3-pointers and had a season-high 15 points in a win over Faith Christian in the Twin Lakes Holiday Tournament.
Ruby White, Eastern Hancock
A four-year mainstay in the Royals lineup, White, a 6-1 senior, played some of her best basketball in the biggest games.
She combined for a perfect 10-for-10 shooting from the field in sectional and regional championship game victories over Scecina and Parke Heritage, going 5-for-5 and scoring 12 points in each contest. She was 6-for-8 from the field in two semi-state games.
She averaged 10.6 points. 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. White shot 57 percent from the field for the season, was named IBCA Senior All-State honorable mention and was selected All-MEC.
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2024 Daily Reporter All-Hancock County
Girls Basketball Team
First Team
Player, School;Ht.;Cl.
Allie Blum, New Palestine;5-6;12
Sammie Bolding, Eastern Hancock;5-4;12
Kenzie Koch, Eastern Hancock;5-8;9
Ellery Minch, Mt. Vernon;6-3;12
Madison Sonsini, Greenfield-Central;6-0;11
Second Team
Player, School;Ht.;Cl.
Chaney Brown, Greenfield-Central;5-9;11
Kanyonrae Kenny, Mt. Vernon;5-8;11
Vivian Miller, New Palestine;5-5;12
Easton Wampler, Mt. Vernon;5-10;12
Ruby White, Eastern Hancock;6-1;12
Player of the Year: Kenzie Koch, Eastern Hancock
Coach of the Year: Shari Doud, Eastern Hancock
Honorable mention: Eastern Hancock — Makenzie O’Neal, Brooklyn Willis. Greenfield-Central — Brooklyn McConnell, Izzy Silcox. Mt. Vernon — Gabby Thomas. New Palestine — Sadey Hughbanks.
