By Matt Browning

Bennie Horsch of Sterling was voted as the Salina Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Horsch, who was first team All-VYPE, averaged 13 points, six rebounds and six assists per game for the Black Bears who were the undefeated 2A state champions.

“Being voted for POY overwhelmed me,” said Horsch. “All eight of the other players deserved this. I am beyond thankful for all the support I have gotten these past four years. I couldn’t be prouder of my teammates and wouldn’t be the player I am today without them pushing me.”

As the defending 2A champion, Horsch said Sterling felt the pressure of trying to repeat.

“Last year was a very different feeling than this year,” Horsch said. “This year we knew walking into the season that we would have a huge target on our backs. Last year only losing one game and being state champions and walking into this year with the returning starters made us feel attacked.”

That one loss in 2021 stood out to Horsch and the Black Bears, so they wanted an unblemished record to conclude this season.

“A memory that has stood out to me is going 26-0,” Horsch said. “This was something we players all wanted to accomplish this year. After every game when we would go into the locker room, we would scream how many wins we had and at state counting to 26 was my favorite thing.”

Horsch will be playing volleyball at Barton County Community College next year and wants to study nursing or elementary education.