By Rick Teverbaugh, Herald Bulletin Sports Editor
PENDLETON — Never one to rest of her laurels, last year’s co-Herald Bulletin Player of the Year, Hannah Douglas, stands alone with that honor in 2010.
Douglas, who saved Pendleton Heights’ life in the girls sectional basketball tournament with a game-tying 3-pointer just before the horn, was the unanimous choice in a vote of area coaches as Player of the Year.
“She’s just a complete player,” said PH coach Shari Doud. “She’s probably one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever coached.”
“When I found out from coach Doud, my mom and I were both very excited,” Douglas said about winning the award. “It’s such a huge honor because there are so many really good players in this area.”
Doud said she wasn’t surprised she has the admiration of the other coaches.
“She (Douglas) is a skilled basketball player with an eye-catching style,” she said. “Coaches are drawn to her because of her demeanor. Her disposition in competition is phenomenal. Hannah never crosses the line.”
As a consummate team player, Douglas has adapted to the team needs over the three years as a varsity player for the Arabians.
“As a freshman, she just wanted to blend in,” said Doud. “She had more pressure on her to produce as a sophomore, and she handled it very well. This year she always drew the best perimeter player of the opponent to defend. How she’s doing all of the things I knew she could do when I saw her play all the way back in the sixth grade.”
“I love that,” said Douglas of her new defensive assignment. “It shows that I’ve been doing the right things in practice. I like to try and shut people down.”
Douglas has yet to sign a letter of intent, but she has verbally committed to Butler for the 2011-12 season.
“I’m going to a bunch of training camps,” said Douglas of her off-season plans. “I need to lift weights and get stronger. That will make me better driver of the basketball and a better finisher.”
As with most players who win singular honors, Douglas said she knows this wasn’t won in a vacuum. Her teammates played a role in it.
“Everyone on the team has been great,” she said. “We push each other. No position on the team is given to anyone. You have to go out and earn it.”
Last year, Douglas shared the award with teammate Mur Hagerman, who is a senior and also a member of the All HB First Team. Due to a lack of size on the team, Hagerman played inside this year, not a role she’s expected to take next season at Wright State.
“Mur’s graduation will be a big hit on us,” said Doud. “The entire team may have a different style with her loss.”
“Mur will leave a huge hole,” said Douglas. “She did everything for us, scoring, defending, ball handling, rebounding.”
Highland’s Jessika Lark, Frankton’s Mollie Hamilton and Alexandria’s Katie Fowler joined the two Pendleton Heights players on the first team.
There were three five-member teams selected for the All Herald Bulletin Team. There were also 10 players selected as honorable mention.
A coach from each of the 11 area schools — Anderson, Highland, Liberty Christian, Alexandria, Pendleton Heights, Frankton, Lapel, Elwood, Daleville, Shenandoah and Madison-Grant — was invited to participate in the nominations and voting.
