Best Of Winter 2025-2026 – Girls Basketball All Area Team

Girls Basketball All-Area Team:

Madi Miller, BSE – The forward/center took yet another step forward in her junior year as she was 2^nd on the team in scoring and led the team in rebounds and blocks. She finished the season with 430 points to now stand at 941 career points and grabbed 256 rebounds as she averaged 13 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game and 1.7 steals per game. Miller was named to the Dieterich Holiday Tournament and National Trail Conference Tournament’s All-Tournament teams and earned several postseason honors being named First Team All-Conference for both the National Trail and Egyptian Illini Conferences as well as earning her first All-State nod being named to Third Team All-State.

Anna Benhoff, Ramsey-Mulberry Grove – The freshman guard burst onto the area girls basketball scene in her debut season dropping 20 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in her first high school game and went on to lead the Lady Rams in scoring on the season with 12.6 points per game and averaged a season double-double, also grabbing an average of 10 rebounds per game. Benhoff was named Second Team All-Conference for the Egyptian Illini Conference.

Baylee Brown, South Central – A sophomore guard, Brown averaged 7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game for the Lady Cougars who were looking to rebuild under a new coaching system. Brown built on a solid freshman season and became a key part of the South Central offense before spending a few games out with an ankle injury but return to finish the season strong.

Ella Nelson, Altamont – The Lady Indians had to make several adjustments in the 2025-2026 season under a new coaching system and in a season in which they lost two starters to injury. Nelson, a junior guard, stepped up and lead the team in scoring with 6.9 points per game as well as leading the team with 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. She also shot 70.6% from the free throw line. Nelson was named to the National Trail Conference All-Tournament Team.

Ollie Whitehead, Vandalia – The senior guard had her best high school season yet leading the Lady Vandals. Whitehead averaged 16.5 points per game to go with 7.7 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game and 2.8 steals per game. She was named to the Nokomis Kick Off Classic, Christ Our Rock Lutheran Winterfest and Vandalia Mid-Winter Tournament All Tournament teams and after the season was named Second Team All-Conference for the South Central Conference. Whitehead will continue her basketball career playing for Kaskaskia College.

Bella Walk, Vandalia – A sophomore guard, Walk built on a strong freshman season and stepped up into a big leadership role with the Lady Vandals and became a big part of the scoring attack as she led the team in scoring with 17 points per game while also averaging 3.7 rebounds per game, 2.2 steals per game and 1.4 assists per game. Walk also used her quickness to combine with teammate Whitehead to create pressure on opposing offenses in the backcourt during transitions.

Lena Bowlin, CHBC – The Lady Bobcats faced a tough task in 2025-2026 with just seven players and Bowlin, a junior, took a major step forward to lead the team with 11.3 points per game while also grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game.

Ethel Stuckemeyer, CHBC – Stuckemeyer, a sophomore, had to step up into a big role for the Lady Bobcats this season, looked upon to be a leader on both sides of the floor, Stuckemeyer finished the season second on the team in scoring with 8.1 points per game while also averaging 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 steals and 2.3 assists per game. Stuckemeyer was named to the CHBC Girls Thanksgiving Tournament All-Tournament Team and was named First Team All-Conference for the Egyptian Illini Conference.

Daisy Allen, Ramsey-Mulberry Grove – Following in the footsteps of teammate Kelsey Hayes the year before, Allen became well known as a beast on the boards in her senior year as she averaged 10.5 rebounds per game, an increase of 4 rebounds per game from her junior season and also finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 8.8 points per game. Allen was named Second Team All-Conference in the Egyptian Illini Conference. Allen will continue her basketball career collegiately playing for Lewis & Clark College.

Carissa Wakefield, CHBC – The Lady Bobcat sophomore came out of her shell quickly in her second season becoming a starter and leading the team in rebounds with 8.9 rebounds per game and also took a big jump in her scoring with 7.7 points per game for the Lady Bobcats.

Presley Willams, BSE – The senior guard saw her game continue to grow and adapt in her final high school season becoming an even bigger defensive threat while also becoming an important cog in the offensive ball movement scheme for the team this year. Williams had career highs in steals averaging 5.6 steals per game and in assists averaging 3.4 a game. While still a threat to score from the perimeter or off the dribble drive, Williams averaged 6.6 points per game and also grabbed an average of 4.9 rebounds per game. Williams was named First Team All-Conference for in the Egyptian Illini and Second Team All-Conference in the National Trail Conference.

Addie Sasse, BSE – The senior forward became known as a top defender in the area as she continued to raise the bar in her final season. Sasse drew many tough assignments across the Bombers tough schedule of opponents and became known as a defensive pest often able to shut down opponents in the post and on the perimeter. Sasse was tough on the board, averaging 7.4 rebounds per game to go along with averages of 6 points per game, 2.1 steals per game and 1.8 assists per game. Sasse was named to the Dieterich Holiday Tournament and National Trail Conference All Tournament teams this season and also earned postseason honors being named Second Team All-Conference in both the National Trail and Egyptian Illini Conferences.

Danika Ramsey, BSE – Often underestimated by opposing defenses, the junior guard was a serious three-point threat, especially from both the left and right wings for the Lady Bombers, and finished with a career high 254 points this season averaging 7.5 points per game along with averaging 2.2 rebounds per game, 1.4 steals per game and 1.0 assists per game. Ramsey was named Second Team All-Conference in the Egyptian Illini Conference.

Reagan Kuenstler, Altamont – A sophomore guard, Kuenstler was a key part of the Lady Indians game plan as she was second on the team in scoring, rebounds and assists while leading the team in steals. She finished the season with averages of 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 deflections, 1.8 steals and 1.4 assists per game. Kuenstler was named Honorable Mention All-Conference for the National Trail Conference.