Three Vikings, one Wildcat make girls basketball All-PAC

By Chris Morlan

Pocket Athletic Conference recently announced the all-conference team shortly after the Washington Lady Hatchets lost in the Class 3A semi-state semifinal to Jennings County 60-54.

In three of the last five years, the Pocket Athletic Conference has represented the girls’ basketball state finals with Forest Park winning the Class 2A championship in 2022 and 2023. Tecumseh won the Class 1A state title in 2022 and Gibson Southern won the Class 3A championship in 2024. No schools from the PAC have made it to the state finals over the last two seasons. There are 13 teams that represent the PAC, and this is the biggest conference (by number of teams) in the state.

Three Lady Vikings and one Wildcat basketball players were selected to the all-conference team. Seniors Elle Jo Johnson, Jazalyn Ward, and Ella Weatherholt from North Posey, along with Mount Vernon Freshman Stella Hall were chosen for the all-conference squads.

Johnson, Ward, and Weatherholt made the All-PAC Second Team. Hall was selected for the All-PAC Honorable Mention Team. These girls were selected as the all-conference teams by other coaches in the conference.

Elle Jo Johnson had a great season, and a key part of the Lady Vikings 2025-26 campaign. Johnson committed to Olivet Nazarene University next season to play basketball for the Lady Tigers. On the year, Johnson was the second leading scorer averaging 10 points per game and led North Posey in steals with 2.6 per contest. Johnson scored a career-high 23 points on December 3, 2025, at Boonville. This was the second straight year Johnson made the All-PAC Second Team.

Ella Weatherholt made the All-PAC Second Team for the first time. Last season, Weatherholt made the All-PAC Honorable Mention list. On the year, Weatherholt averaged 9.2 points per game and led the team in rebounds with 6.3 per contest. During the Toyota Teamwork Challenge, Weatherholt scored a career-high 17 points against Indian Creek on December 22, 2025. Weatherholt was a four-year starter on the North Posey basketball team.

Jazalyn Ward was selected for the All-PAC Second Team for the first time in her high school career. Ward displayed a great season by leading the Lady Vikings with 11.4 points per game along with being second on the team in rebounds at 5.3 per contest. Ward scored a career-high of 20 points on December 23 against Danville in the Toyota Teamwork Classic.

Mount Vernon freshman Stella Hall made the All-PAC Honorable Mention Team. Hall led the Lady Wildcats by scoring 11.3 points per game in 24 contests played. Hall also led Mount Vernon in assists (1.8) and steals (3.8) on the season. Her best game of the season was on November 29, 2025, when Hall scored a career-high 27 points against Goreville. On December 27, 2025, Hall scored 24 points in a win against Flora.

Selected to the All-Pocket Athletic Conference first team were Emily Parker (Boonville), Paige Schnaus (Gibson Southern), Katie Reed (Washington), Ailie Taylor (Princeton), Mia Becher (Heritage Hills), Shay Hawk (Washington), Alexis Harris (South Spencer), Reese Ford (Tell City), and Nya Dame (Princeton).

Named to the All-PAC second team were London Gilley (Washington), Elle Jo Johnson (North Posey), Jaci Meece (South Spencer), Avery Hill (Forest Park), Iyla Kress (Heritage Hills), Jazalyn Ward (North Posey), Molly Spindler (Gibson Southern), Alyssa McCutcheon (Pike Central), and Ella Weatherholt (North Posey).

The All-PAC honorable mention team consists of Avery Paridaen (Gibson Southern), Kendall Lane (Tell City), Raven Jones (Princeton), Mollie Combs (Forest Park), Stella Hall (Mount Vernon), Carlie Kuebler (Boonville), Taylor Weyer (Gibson Southern), Hazel Melton (Tecumseh), Alexis Kermode (Princeton), Kyra Schuckman (Washington), and Addie Coyle (Tell City).

North Posey finished the season with fourteen wins and twelve losses. The Lady Vikings were 6-6 in the PAC which was good for eighth place. North Posey lost in the sectional championship to Evansville Mater Dei 44-33. Seven seniors will graduate from this team.

Mount Vernon ended their season with nine wins and seventeen losses. In the PAC, the Lady Wildcats had two wins and nine losses good for eleventh place in conference play. Mount Vernon’s season ended in the sectional semifinal when they lost to Evansville Memorial 41-26.