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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

Another season of girls basketball has come and gone in Shelby County after teams across the area left us with unforgettable memories.

From Chelsea’s dominant season, becoming a top-five program in 7A and reaching the Elite Eight, to Pelham’s area title and improbable run to the Elite Eight behind their talented young stars to Vincent’s historic appearance in the Sweet 16 and all the moments in between, the 2023-24 season has certainly been one to remember.

While the ending of every season is bittersweet, it always brings us to this time-honored tradition: the All-County teams for girls basketball, where we honor the players who shined on the court all season long.

First Team

Guard: Tee King, sophomore, Pelham. Earning the county scoring title as just a sophomore, King more than filled the massive shoes left behind by former Shelby County Player of the Year Laci Gogan in a breakout sophomore season. She scored 612 points this season while averaging 19.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game and has already surpassed 1,000 career points. King also stepped up in a big way in the Panthers’ Sweet 16 win over Chilton County with 19 points and scored 27 points in the Elite Eight against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.

Guard: Karma Wynn, senior, Pelham. After making history prior to the season as Pelham’s first Division I girls basketball signee, Wynn left her mark in her final season with the Panthers. She averaged 14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and led the county in steals with 117 to get above 300 career steals. While her 44% shooting percentage helped power the Panthers to the area title, her leadership throughout the season helped build the team into an Elite Eight squad, especially on the court in sub-regionals and off the court in regionals.

Guard: Ann Tatum Baker, sophomore, Briarwood Christian. When the Lions needed a big performance, Baker was there time and again. She shot 41% during the season including a county-high 87% from the line while averaging 13.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game and totaling 88 steals on the year. The sophomore standout led Briarwood in scoring and helped it earn a regular season area title and a spot in sub-regionals.

Forward: Haley Trotter, junior, Chelsea. The best player on the best team in the county, Trotter is the 2023-24 Shelby County Player of the Year after leading the way for the Hornets. She averaged a double-double with 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while hustling for 52 blocks and 78 steals. Her shooting performance around the court powered Chelsea to a 26-6 record in Class 7A and a spot in the Elite Eight.

Center: Ja’Kalynn McGinnis, junior, Vincent. The Jackets made a historic run to their first Sweet 16 since 1996, and one player led the way in the middle of the court: McGinnis. She averaged a double-double with 13.8 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per game. She also racked up 98 steals and 56 blocks to help Vincent win the regular season area title and earn herself a second-straight spot on the All-County First Team.

 

Second Team

Guard: Raegan Whitaker, senior, Oak Mountain. In her final season with the Eagles, Whitaker averaged a double-double from the guard spot with 10 points and 11 rebounds per game along with 3.8 assists per game, 65 total blocks and 66 total steals. She finishes her career with 1,356 points and her fifth appearance on the All-County team.

Guard: Sadie Schwallie, junior, Chelsea. Schwallie was the engine for the Hornets as the team’s floor general and impacted the game around the court. She led Chelsea in made 3-pointers with 38 while averaging nine points per game and was a defensive force, putting consistent pressure on opposing defenses and racking up 68 steals in the process.

Guard: Emma Kerley, sophomore, Briarwood Christian. Kerley helped Briarwood down low with her 8.2 rebounds per game and 230 total rebounds while providing consistent points for her team as well. She averaged 11.9 points per game while scoring 333 points and shooting 41% on field goals, 63% on free throws and 38% on 3-pointers.

Forward: Jayla Forbes, freshman, Thompson. Forbes entered the season as one of the most sought-after prospects in the Class of 2027 and lived up to that billing throughout the season. She averaged a county-high 13 rebounds per game to go with her 12.5 points per game as she posed a threat down low and around the court. Forbes used her 6-foot-6 frame to stop opposing offenses with 81 blocks during the season, which was the second-most in the county.

Center: Tristan Stoutermire, senior, Montevallo. The 6-foot-4 senior was a matchup nightmare in Class 4A. She was a walking double-double with 12.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, and her 118 blocks were the most in the county. She hit a career-high 27 points against Holt and helped the Bulldogs reach the area championship game and sub-regionals to close her career.

 

Third Team

Guard: Mary Beth Dicen, senior, Briarwood Christian. In her senior season, Dicen was a reliable scoring threat for the Lions with 11.2 points per game while shooting 43% on field goals, 38% on 3-pointers and 63% from the line. However, her most impactful basket came in the area finale against Pelham as she scored the go-ahead basket to clinch a perfect 4-0 area record and a spot in sub-regionals.

Guard: Caroline Kester, sophomore, Oak Mountain. Kester stepped up as one of the top shooters on Oak Mountain in her sophomore year. She averaged 12 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 33% from the field and 79% from the free throw line. She has already eclipsed 500 career points and will be a key player to watch going forward.

Guard: Kaylee Fenderson, freshman, Thompson. Fenderson was the county’s assist queen with 4.5 assists per game and 131 total, but she didn’t stop there. She averaged double-figures as a freshman with 10.5 points per game while shooting 40% on field goals, 34% on 3-pointers and 78% from the free throw line.

Forward: Caroline Brown, sophomore, Chelsea. Three of Chelsea’s five losses came without Caroline Brown. That alone should show the sophomore’s impact on the Hornets as she averaged 9.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. She was a complete threat around the court, shooting 43% from the field and 33% on 3-pointers, spreading the offense around with a team-high 67 assists and was a key member of Chelsea’s lockdown defense.

Forward: Amari Grant, sophomore, Helena. The 6-foot-1 sophomore led the way for the Huskies with 8.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and 40 blocks on the year, earning an All-Area spot while highlighting Helena’s promising young talent.

 

Honorable Mention: Morgan Adolphus, Thompson. Olivia Pryor, Chelsea. Morgan Arnold, Shelby County. Gerren Ingram, Pelham. Alayna Noble, Pelham. Ava Leonard, Spain Park. Tori Flournoy, Spain Park. Teagan Huey, Spain Park.