BROWNSTOWN
Kristen Stuckwisch has a motor that just doesn’t stop, whether it be on the basketball court or in the classroom.
That is the way Brownstown Central girls basketball coach Karla Rieckers described one of her seniors during the Braves’ awards program Thursday night in the school cafeteria.
A few minutes later, Rieckers presented Stuckwisch with a most valuable player plaque, plus the mental attitude award and outstanding defensive player award.
Rieckers said this is the fourth straight year that Stuckwisch was named the outstanding defensive player and the second time she has received the mental attitude award.
“She was a relentless worker,” Rieckers said. “She always guarded the opponents’ leading scorer, and a lot of times, she held her below her scoring average. She always kept her head up.”
Stuckwisch sustained an ankle sprain late in the season that forced her to miss two games, and Rieckers said she was not able to go 100 percent in the sectional game against Salem.
Stuckwisch’s high-point games were 14 against Austin and 13 against Silver Creek.
Sophomore Ashley Schroer also received multiple honors, as she was named to the all-Mid-Southern Conference first team and was the recipient of the Braves’ rebound (77) and assist (62) awards.
Schroer topped the Braves in scoring with 260 points for an average of 10 points per game. Her high-point games were 18 against Madison, 17 against Silver Creek and 16 against Edgewood and Danville.
Sophomore Halle Hehman received the field goal percentage award for making 59 of 139 for 42.4 percent, while junior Tayler Garland received the free throw award for making 32 of 40 for 80 percent.
Rieckers gave special recognition to her senior players, Kristen Stuckwisch, Shelby Stuckwisch and Madison Klinge.
“Madison is a player of few words, but she knows the game,” Rieckers said. “Shelby played post in middle school, and we moved her around to different positions and had her handle the ball, and she has greatly improved on that.”
The seniors had a four-year record of 64-37.
Rieckers said all three seniors have been named academic all-state honorable mention by Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association, and they rank seventh, ninth and 12th in the senior class of 131 students.
The Braves had a record of 18-8 this season, including 5-4 in the MSC.
“It was a great year,” Rieckers said. “It was truly enjoyable. We played six teams that won sectionals. When you look at the success of the schedule we play, that shows how good our opponents were. Five of our eight losses were Mid-Southern Conference teams. That says a lot about the MSC.”
She encouraged the returning players to attend open gym Mondays and Thursdays.
“The outlook is very bright for the future with the players we have returning and the junior varsity going unbeaten (20-0),” she said.
This was the second time Lee Ann Borden coached the JV team to an unbeaten record. They averaged 45 points per game and only gave up 22.
Freshman Katherine Benter received the JV most improved and free throw awards. She was 64 for 94 at the line.
“They did everything on the floor we asked of them,” Borden said.