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Meet the Tuscaloosa News Super Five all-area high school girls basketball team for 2023-24

The Tuscaloosa News continues its tradition of honoring the top high school basketball players in West Alabama with its annual Super Five selections.

Here is the Super Five girls All-Tuscaloosa area team for the 2023-24 season, with coach of the year, second-team honorees and honorable mentions:

First team

Player of the Year: Jareah Branch, Hillcrest

Class: Jr.

Height: 6-0

Position: Guard

Branch led Hillcrest to its second-straight Class 6A Final Four appearance along with winning the 6A-Area 6 regular season and area tournament. She averaged 9.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists throughout the season, along with picking up 66 steals.

Mar 7, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Jareah Branch, from Hillcrest High, is the Tuscaloosa News female basketball player of the year.
Mar 7, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Jareah Branch, from Hillcrest High, is the Tuscaloosa News female basketball player of the year.

Ella Wheeler, Sulligent

Class: Jr.

Height: 5-10

Position: Guard

Wheeler averaged 27 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 2023-24. She led Sulligent to a 23-5 finish along with a trip to the Class 2A Sweet 16.

Ryan Bardenwerper, Northridge

Class: So.

Height: 6-1

Position: Guard

Bardenwerper led Northridge, who finished second in 6A-Area 6, with 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in 2023-24.

Lailah Hill, Hale County

Class: Jr.

Height: 5-7

Position: Guard/Forward

Hill led Hale County to the Class 4A Elite 8. She averaged 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Sinaya Gibson, Hillcrest

Class: Sr.

Height: 6-0

Position: Center

The Wallace Hanceville women's basketball commit averaged 10.8 rebounds, 7.4 points and 0.7 assists in 2023-24 along with helping lead Hillcrest to its second-straight appearance in the Class 6A Final Four.

Coach of the year

Nick Browder, Hillcrest

Browder earned coach of the year honors for the second-straight season. In his fourth season at the helm of the Hillcrest program, he led the Lady Patriots to a 6A-Area 6 regular season and area tournament championship along with a trip to the Final Four.

Feb 28, 2024; Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Hillcrest head coach Nick Browder signals instructions to his team at Legacy Arena Tuesday in the state semifinal game. Hazel Green defeated Hillcrest 52-38.
Feb 28, 2024; Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Hillcrest head coach Nick Browder signals instructions to his team at Legacy Arena Tuesday in the state semifinal game. Hazel Green defeated Hillcrest 52-38.

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Second team

  • Breona Walker, Tuscaloosa County, Sr., Guard

  • Adrienne Hunt, Paul W. Bryant, So., Guard

  • Madeline Chapman, Southern Academy, Sr., Guard

  • Sky Latham, Gordo, Fr., Guard/Forward

  • Char'tavia Conwell, Bibb County, Sr., Forward

Honorable mention

  • Carly King, Tuscaloosa Academy, Sr., Guard

  • Aaliyah Golston, Central, Sr., Guard

  • Kate Wilkins, Pickens Academy, Sr., Guard

  • Kylee Dunn, Hubbertville, Sr., Forward

  • Jakeya Horton, Northridge, So., Forward

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa News Super Five high school girls basketball team for 2023-24