Hornettes Hold Awards Banquet
By Brent Huelsmann
The Nashville Hornettes girls basketball team handed out team awards on Monday night. From left to right: Libby Ahlers was awarded with the Free Throw Award, Rachael Kell was awarded as the Most Improved Player, Paige Kasten was named the team MVP, and received a plaque for breaking the school’s three point record, Janie Holle was given the Hornette Award, and Karly Stanowski was given the Rebounding Award.
The Nashville Hornettes girls basketball team capped off a season in which they won the Nashville Thanksgiving Tournament, finished fifth in the Mascoutah Tournament, and took home the Consolation Championship in the Highland Tournament with the Awards Banquet, held at Nashville High School on Monday March 13. The Hornettes also won their Regional for the 17th time in the last 18 years. The Hornettes season ended in the Sectional Final with a loss to Mater Dei. Nashville finished with a record of 25-7 on the season.
At the banquet, junior Paige Kasten was named the Team MVP. Kasten finished the season as the Hornettes leading scorer as she averaged 12.1 points per game. Kasten also received a plaque for breaking the school record for three pointers in a season. Kasten finished with 94 three pointers, which gave her 180 career three pointers, which was also a school record.
Karly Stanowski was given the rebounding award as she finished with a team-high 256 rebounds this season, which translated to her averaging eight per game. Stanowski was second on the team in scoring with 9.2 points per game.
Rachael Kell was awarded as the Most Improved Player this season. Kell scored 5.6 points per game, but led the team into the Sectional Final, as she scored 17 points in the Sectional Semi-Final win to lead the Hornettes over Harrisburg. Kell’s highest production of the season came against Hillsboro in the Consolation Championship game of the Highland Tournament where she had a team-high 18 points.
Libby Ahlers received the free throw award at the banquet as she finished the season as the top free throw shooter on the team. Ahlers connected on 66.7% of her free throws this season. Ahlers averaged 7.5 points per game this season.
Janie Holle received the Hornette Award at the banquet. Holle was the lone senior on the team this season, and came up with clutch baskets throughout the season. Holle was given the award as a team leader throughout the season. Holle came up huge in the postseason as her bucket right before the buzzer gave the Hornettes a Regional Championship over Greenville 42-40. Holle also came up big in the Sectional Semi-Final as her free throws with 1.1 seconds left clinched a spot in the Sectional Final for the Hornettes. Holle finished the season averaging 7.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
