All-GLC team unveiled

While Elyria Catholic’s state tournament run may be on hold, the Panthers picked up a few off-court victories March 16 as the Great Lakes Conference announced its all-league team.

Senior forward Ally Winnen headlined a group of six Elyria Catholic players honored, while also splitting the league’s player of the year award. Winnen was named co-player of the year alongside Parma’s Mahogany Cottingham.

Ally was joined by her sister Abby Winnen on the first team, after the pair helped lead the Panthers to a D-III state semifinal before the postponement of the tournament due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Ally was also named Lorain County Miss Basketball and 2020 Morning Journal girls basketball player of the year. The senior averaged 17.4 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.

Sophomore Annika Bredel and junior Emily Rapacz were the only Elyria Catholic underclassmen to land on the lists, earning second-team honors.

Bredel thrived in a bench role for the Panthers this season as the only player outside of Ally Winnen to average over 10 points a game. While Rapacz was a key player in Elyria Catholic’s regional semifinal win over Tuslaw, scoring four early points to keep the Panthers within striking distance.

Bay’s Haley Andrejcak and Fairview’s Lizzy Williams also earned first-team nods. Andrejcak led the Rockets to their third straight regional semifinal appearance in her senior campaign, averaging 13.6 points a game.

The Warriors’ Gabby Biggs and the Rockets’ Barbara Aldridge both landed on the second team.

Honorable mentions included Elyria Catholic’s Julia Allegretto and Kaylie Griffin, Bay’s Audrey Hyland and Caroline Fowles and Fairview’s Leila Discenza and Meghan Weir.

Elyria Catholic’s Eric Rothgery took home coach of the year honors, rounding out a sweep of the major awards for the Panthers.

CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR » Ally Winnen, Elyria Catholic and Mahogany Cottingham, Parma

COACH OF THE YEAR » Eric Rothgery, Elyria Catholic

FIRST TEAM (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) » Haley Andrejcak, Bay, Jada Benjamin, Valley Forge, Mahogany Cottingham, Parma, Maria Potts, Rocky River, Madison Ross, Buckeye, Becky Styers, Holy Name, Delany Sullivan, Normandy, Lizzy Williams, Fairview, Abby Winnen, Elyria Catholic, Ally Winnen, Elyria Catholic

SECOND TEAM (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) » Barbara Aldridge, Bay, Alyssa Beckett, Buckeye, Gabby Biggs, Fairview, Annika Bredel, Elyria Catholic, Grace Jacobs, Parma, Kelsey Murphy, Rocky River, Haley Onderak, Valley Forge, Emily Rapacz, Elyria Catholic, Keira Schmock, Holy Name, Emily Queener, Normandy

HONORABLE MENTION (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) » Julia Allegretto, Elyria Catholic, Sydney Bell, Buckeye, Lauren Boling, Holy Name, Jill Bosella, Normandy, Amaris DeJesus, Parma, Leila Discenza, Fairview, Caroline Fowles, Bay, Kaylie Griffin, Elyria Catholic, Andrea Guerra, Valley Forge, Audrey Hyland, Bay, Autumn Meyer, Buckeye, Sophia Murray, Rocky River, Deziree O’Conner, Parma, Julia Potts, Rocky River, Izzy Rodriguez, Holy Name, Caylin Wagner, Normandy, Meghan Weir, Fairview

TIM PHILLIS — FOR THE MORNING JOURNAL Ally Winnen of Elyria Catholic goes to the hoop for two of her game-high 30 points in a 65-42 win over Gilmour on Jan. 2.