Winter sports review 2025-26: Girls basketball
Reese Dilbeck performed well for Chesterton girls basketball team against taller players and also showcased a soft 3-point touch.
Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com
The vertically challenged Trojans exceeded expectations to finish 15-8 overall and took third place in the DAC with a 5-2 record.
Better yet, the team’s four best players and leading scorers, listed here alphabetically, Ella Boyanski, Novea Brandon, Reese Dilbeck and Lindsi McGuffey, all are back this coming season and Valparaiso’s Lillian Barnes will be playing at Ball State, earning six figures a season in NIL money.
Barnes’ Valpo teams went 8-0 vs. Chesterton and ended each of the Trojans’ past four seasons in the sectional round of the playoffs.
DAC Final standings: 1. Valparaiso, 2. Crown Point, 3. Chesterton, 4. Lake Central, 5. LaPorte, 6. Merrillville, 7. Portage, 8. Michigan City.
All-DAC:
Chesterton: Lindsi McGuffey, Novea Brandon, Ella Boyanski.
Crown Point: Ava Richie, Ivy Henderson, Ava Punak.
Lake Central:Jill Beaderstadt, Emma Myszak.
Valparaiso: Lillian Barnes, Cadynce Clark, Delilah Kincaid.
MVP: Lillian Barnes, Valparaiso.
Chesterton awards:
Co-MVP: Novea Brandon, Lindsi McGuffey.
Most improved: Chloe Murzyn.
Mental attitude: Addison Glossinger.
Most rebounds: Reese Dilbeck.
Best free throw %: Novea Brandon.
Most assists: Novea Brandon.
Most Steals: Novea Brandon.
Todd Talbert Memorial Award: Addison Pack.
Kurt Ruoff Memorial Award: Reese Dilbeck.