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Taylor is 2015 Putnam County Player of the Year
Due to her unwavering work ethic, her commitment to her team and her athletic prowess on the floor Greencastle senior Callan Taylor has been named Putnam County girls' basketball 2015 Player of the Year.
"I just think it's cool that I won," Taylor said. "I've been working really hard this past year and put a lot of time not just to be Player of the Year but to be a better athlete and better basketball player."
The Banner Graphic Player of the Year is selected as the player making the most valuable contribution to her team's image and success and having the highest character both on and off the court.
Taylor was Putnam County's leading scorer with 12.2 points per game but many games she scored 20 or more en route to a win. She averaged three boards per game and was also a defensive pest, managing 2.8 steals per game.
"I think my team has helped me," Taylor said. "We are all working hard. If I passed to them, I knew they would knock it down. We all just play off of each other."
However, her stats this season are just one side of the coin when Taylor is mentioned. Being a four-year player under head coach Bradley Key, Taylor was the driving force for GHS and the offense usually ran through Taylor every game.
"I have been so lucky to have had the opportunity to coach a player like Callan Taylor. The last four years she has done nothing but given her all to our program. Callan has not only been our best player, she is also the player that works the hardest," Key said. "Other girls feed off of her intensity and love for the game."
Taylor used the four years at Greencastle to learn as much as she could not taking for granted the fact that many high school athletes don't receive that luxury.
"(Coach Key) will push you," Taylor said. "He pushes players to do the best that they can. He always has your back, no matter what. He's the best coach I've ever had. He pushes you because he knows what you can do."
Taylor may have been filling up the stat sheet this year but she also will be in the Greencastle record books for years to come.
"She finished her career as the 10th leading scorer in Greencastle women's basketball, second in career steals and fourth in career three-pointers hit," Key said.
"Her name will forever be all over our record book but what I've been most impressed with is the person that Callan has developed into while in high school. She is the epitome of a student-athlete. It doesn't matter if she is on the court or in a classroom Callan will give it her all."
She believes that it was necessary because hard work was a part of the team's mentality.
Taylor suffered an injury to her foot late in the season but powered through in an attempt to help propell the Tiger Cubs to a sectional victory. These types of plays along with the effort that she expended every night on the McAnally floor are what set Taylor apart from most high-school athletes.
"I'm a hard-working player," she said simply. "That's what got me here. I've had to work for everything. From ball-handling to shooting or passing I've had to work at it. I'm not naturally gifted or anything. I've spent countless hours in the gym. That's what helped me win."
Taylor will be playing at St. Mary-of-the-Woods next year and will be looking to make headlines for the Pomeroys.
"Callan left a tremendous mark on our program and will be greatly missed next year. We are excited to see her excel at St. Mary's of the Woods and we know good things are in her future," Key said.
Bailee Stevens
Holding the reins at Cloverdale, senior Bailee Stevens has been named Player of the Year runner-up.
At 5-4 she led the team in scoring, rebounding and steals with 11.2, 5.5 and 2.2 respectively. She also was second in steals behind junior Payton Dorsett.
Stevens is the reason Cloverdale was in many games this season. She scored 22 points in the big win against Eminence and 14 points with nine rebounds in the season opener. But she makes the All-County squad also because of her ability to make plays when there appears to be nothing available.
Emily Dobson
As a candidate for this year's runner-up, South Putnam's Emily Dobson makes the All-Putnam County team due to her presence on the court.
Dobson was second on her team in rebounds per game with 5.4 and led the team in blocks. On average she grabbed two offensive rebounds per game and Dobson made these hustle plays without getting into foul trouble, only committing 2.4 per game.
The senior scored 5.8 points per game but Dobson makes the team for her ability to limit what opposing offenses wanted to do. Many of the Eagles' defensive stops this year were a result of the 5-11 Dobson getting into the lane and standing tall. She ended the year with 28 blocks, more than any other county school totaled.
Much of her efforts don't reach the stat book but South Putnam will definitely miss her size and basketball awareness next year.
Katie Hewitt
Looking to help fill the void left by Dobson will be Eagle junior Katie Hewitt.
Hewitt's 8.4 points per game and team--leading 5.7 rebounds per game only begin to tell the story. She shot 46 percent from the field, the highest of any Putnam County player who played in at least 20 games.
Hewitt used her 5-10 frame to get great positioning under the basket and her rebounds put the emphasis on the Eagle defensive stands. This helped South Putnam to its county-leading 29.9 rebounds per game.
Taylor Nauert
Representing North Putnam on the All-County team is junior Taylor Nauert. She led the Lady Cougars with 9.5 points per game and 5 rebounds per game.
Offensively she was capable of anything North Putnam may have needed. She could step out and hit a three, which is convenient for a 6-1 player. She could also post up in the paint and pass it to players on the perimeter.
Defensively Nauert was capable of blocking out without fouling and keeping opposing players out of the lane. North Putnam will be happy to get one more year out of Nauert.
Bethanie Burgeson
Representing GHS on the All-County team is the sharp-shooting junior Bethanie Burgeson.
Burgeson is a stat book packer. She scored seven points per game, grabbed three rebounds per game and had a county-high 64 steals on the season.
Most of Burgeson's time was spent on the perimeter but she was capable of driving the lane and getting to rim as well. However opposing defenses generally chased the Tiger Cub around the court and through screens until she popped open and drained a three over their outstretched arms.
Burgeson served as a jumpstart for the Tiger Cubs and a lot of times she hit multiple threes to give GHS a lead to help get a win.
Miranda Bieghler
The only freshman to lead her team in scoring with 10, South Putnam's Miranda Bieghler earns the final spot on the All-County team. Bieghler scored 10 points per game and at 5-3 hustled her way to 2.5 rebounds per game.
Bieghler shot 34 percent from the field and ended the season with 41 steals and 62 rebounds.