By Cort Reynolds

The 2023-24 All-Northwest Conference girls basketball teams were voted on Sunday by the league coaches and released by the league office Monday, February 19.

Bluffton junior Ayla Grandey was the top vote-getter on the All-NWC second team.

The 6-2 center led the Pirate girls in scoring, rebounds, foul shooting and blocked shots. She averaged 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game during the regular season. 

The accurate Grandey has made 87 of 102 free throws (85 percent), and she also shot 27 percent beyond the arc (12-45).

Hustling Pirate sophomore wing Blair Utendorf was named honorable mention all-league. She averaged 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Bluffton finished 1-7 in the nine-team league, ahead of 0-8 Ada. The Pirate girls finished the regular season 7-15 overall and on a seven-game losing skid. 

Delphos Jefferson and Crestview tied for the league championship at 7-1. Allen East and Columbus Grove tied for third at 6-2.

Lincolnview finished fifth in the rugged NWC at 4-4. Spencerville was sixth (3-5), followed by Leipsic (2-6), Bluffton and Ada.

Defending co-NWC Player of the Year Alyvia Lindeman repeated as POY after leading her team to a share of the conference crown. She nosed out defending co-POY Cali Gregory for top player honors in 2024.

Denise Lindeman of Jefferson was named NWC Coach of the Year by her peers.

2023-24 All-NWC girls basketball teams:

NWC Player of the Year: Lyv Lindeman – Delphos Jefferson
NWC Coach of the Year: Denise Lindeman – Delphos Jefferson

1st Team
Lyv Lindeman – 12 – Guard – Delphos Jefferson
Cali Gregory – 12 – Guard – Crestview
Lauryn Auchmuty – 11 – Guard – Columbus Grove
Rilynn Jones – 11 – Guard – Allen East
Savana Brooks – 10 – Forward – Allen East
Ava Henry – 12 – Guard – Leipsic

2nd Team
Ayla Grandey – 11 – Center – Bluffton
Keira Breese – 10 – Guard – Lincolnview
Heidi Keller – 12 – Guard – Spencerville
Ellie Kline – 11 – Guard – Crestview
Nicole Nesby – 10 – Forward – Columbus Grove

Honorable Mention
Lauren French – 12 – Post – Delphos Jefferson
Myia Etzler – 12 – Forward – Crestview
Clara Goecke – 10 – Guard – Spencerville
Kaci Gregory – 9 – Guard – Crestview
Olivia Burkhart – 12 – Guard – Ada
Emerson Walker – 11 – Guard – Lincolnview
Kyrstin Moore – 12 – Forward – Delphos Jefferson
Briley Cook – 9 – Post – Spencerville
Maddey Burris – 12 – Guard – Delphos Jefferson
Soraya Jackson – 12 – Post – Allen East
Leah Kirkendall – 12 – Guard – Leipsic
Aubrey Young – 12 – Guard – Allen East
Kendal Palte – 10 – Forward – Columbus Grove
Josie Kulwicki – 11 – Guard – Crestview
Addysen Stevens – 12 – Guard – Lincolnview
Blair Utendorf – 10 – Forward – Bluffton