Kettering Fairmont senior is Ms. Basketball

Madeline Westbeld of Kettering Fairmont is Ohio Ms. Basketball, the OPSWA announced March 12. The Notre Dame recruit averaged 18.0 points and 11.2 rebounds per game this season.

She can run the point, defend the post and play the wing.

Versatility makes Madeline “Maddy” Westbeld elite.

“It’s not everyday you get a 6-foot-3 player that can do everything,” Fairmont girls basketball coach Jeremey Finn said. “There are times she’ll bring the ball up and run the offense. There were times we’d set her on top of our defense. That’s what’s going to make a difference for her at the next level. She can do so many things, and do them well.”

Westbeld, a senior at Kettering Fairmont High School, was named Ohio’s 33rd annual Ms. Basketball winner on March 12. The award is presented and voted upon by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.

Eastlake North senior Destiny Leo was runner-up. The other finalists were senior Edyn Battle from Gahanna Lincoln, senior Katrina Davis from Bellaire, sophomore Grace VanSlooten from Toledo Notre Dame and junior Shyanne Sellers from Aurora.

Westbeld led the Firebirds (25-3) in scoring (18.0) rebounds (11.2), assists (3.6), steals (2.8) and blocked shots (2.3). She will play in the upcoming McDonald’s All-American game (Ohio’s lone rep) and was recently tabbed the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year. Her college destination is Notre Dame.

Westbeld’s run ended last March 7 with a 47-41 loss to undefeated Mount Notre Dame in a Division I regional final at Princeton High School. The Cougars (28-0) are ranked No. 3 in the nation. Westbeld had a team-high 15 points and game-high 11 rebounds. “My main focus was a state championship,” Westbeld said. “Team goals are what mattered to me. That fact that I got (Ms. Basketball), though, is awesome. It was kind of unexpected and I was still upset after the loss, so that text from my coach was a little bit of a silver-lining – if there was one.”

Westbeld finishes her career with 1,362 points, 968 rebounds, 269 assists, 218 blocks and 199 steals. A defining moment came early this season (Nov. 24) when she scored a careerhigh 36 points and added 12 rebounds, eight steals and four assists in a 5346 win over then nationally No. 2 ranked Hamilton Heights (Tenn.). Westbeld owns 48 career doubledoubles.

“She’s so efficient in what she does and how she prepares,” Finn said.