This year’s girls’ basketball season saw the rise of budding stars. Glen Lake, St. Mary, Suttons Bay, and Leland illuminated the courts, demonstrating why Leelanau County’s girls’ basketball has become essential viewing. With packed crowds and communities rallying behind their teams, each game was a testament to the thriving basketball culture in the region.
More than 12 girls’ basketball players received nominations for the seven-person Dream Team including a sixth player of the year and a sportsmanship award, which makes a top-5 to be so hard.
The 2024-25 Leelanau Enterprise Dream Team is voted on by sports reporter Brian Freiberger and Leelanau County high school coaches: Brad Fosmore (Glen Lake), Clint Couturier (St. Mary) Ryan Knudsen (Leland) and Mariah Kalchik (Suttons Bay).
MVP:
Delana Kirt (St. Mary)
Lake Leelanau St. Mary senior Delana Kirt has been named the 2023-24 girls’ basketball Dream Team MVP for her leadership of the Eagles and dominance on the court all season long.
“It didn’t end the way any of us had anticipated, but I look back on the season and realized that this is like the best season that I’ve ever had in my high school career,” Kirt said. “I was really sad, but I look back on it and I’m also really proud of it too … mixed emotions, mixed feelings.”
Kirt separated herself from the pack, playing in all 20 games, averaging 12 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game.
St. Mary coach Clint Couturier said, “(Kirt) is a stat stuffer and she gave everything she had. She is a well-rounded player and person.”
Kirt will take with her the friendships that have been made while wearing the blue and white for St. Mary.
“I have a lot of friendships but I feel like these friendships from this team are lifelong ones,” Kirt said. “I would tell (underclassmen) to cherish every single moment, every single practice, every game. Yeah, sometimes in the moment it feels repetitive, but in the end, it goes by so fast … don’t take anything for granted.”
Kirt earned the Enterprise Athlete of the Week after her dominant performance propelling the Eagles over Glen Lake for the first time since 2003 in early February. Kirt had 18 points, 14 rebounds, and eight steals on the night. Multiple times throughout the season she nearly had a triple-double. In another win against Kalkaska, Kirt had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Lydia Fosmore (Glen Lake)
Lydia Fosmore proved she belonged with the best— even as a freshman for Glen Lake girls basketball —leading to a spot on the Dream Team.
“It was really scary for sure, but the more I went on, I realized I just had to do what I could do and get into the flow of the game. After that, it just comes pretty easy and I just have to play my game,” Fosmore said.
One thing Fosmore had to overcome was being the daughter of first-year coach Brad Fosmore. She had to earn her stripes in front of her teammates. Even as a freshman, Fosmore will be counted on in a leadership role for successful Laker seasons in the future.
“I think we accomplished a lot this season and I’m proud of all of our girls and I hope that next year and the years after that we can do better and get better… They were just really supportive of me and they never excluded me for being one of the younger girls and they helped me a lot just to become a better player.”
Fosmore was the first Enterprise Athlete of the Week way back in December after scoring 17 points during her first varsity game in a 36-32 win over St. Francis. Another monster moment happened against Kingsley earlier in the season as she led the team with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Down the stretch, Fosmore showed she could facilitate a game during the tournament, playing a pivotal role in leading the Lakers to a district championship and a regional finals appearance.
Eleanor Valkner (Glen Lake)
Glen Lake senior Eleanor Valkner made the dream team for her dominant force in the paint on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
“ We were playing our hearts out every game. We wanted to make the longest run we could,” Valkner said. “It’s a bittersweet feeling.”
In a game against Suttons Bay, Valkner had a once-in-alifetime stat line of 23 points and 23 rebounds.
Valkner leaves a Laker legacy of a state champion from the 2022-23 season. Even as underdogs, Valkner kept the Laker standard high as she led the team to a co-northwest conference championship and made it back to the regional final.
Her advice to underclassmen is to put in the work and have fun while doing it and trust there’ll be great rewards.
“Always push yourself and dream big because the past two years we’ve dreamed of making it as far as we can and just constantly pushing each other,” Valkner said.
Valkner led the Lakers in the district championship over St. Mary with 21 points and nine rebounds. Another monster game happened against Benzie Central when Valkner had 22 points, and 11 rebounds. She had at least eight double-doubles throughout the season.
She earned the Enterprise Athlete of the Week after two dominant performances. Valkner couldn’t be stopped against Kingsley as she scored 16 points and grabbed 19 rebounds last week. Valkner continued to roll against Leland on Tuesday with 11 points and 16 rebounds.
“We kept working as a team and grew from every game we played and learned from every mistake … We knew what we need to do to improve,” Valkner said.
Leah Fleis (St. Mary)
Lake Leelanau St. Mary senior Leah Fleis made her presence felt in the middle for the Eagles on her way to a spot on the Dream Team.
As a senior, Fleis found a new confidence, especially looking up to the players from previous classes who had exceptional careers in their own right.
“It was really fun seeing myself grow as a player and to play alongside my team, watching them grow as well,” Fleis said. “ I’m going to look back on getting to play with those girls … we tell each other everything. We’re like sisters. We’re just a family … we pick each other back up and that’s the really beautiful part of it.”
Fleis averaged nearly a double- double with 10 points a game. In February, she led the Eagles in a dominant 62-18 win over Grand Traverse Academy with 18 points and nine rebounds. She also had a double- double of 12 points, 10 rebounds against Gaylord St, Mary in January.
Fleis stood toe-to-toe against the top competition of southern Michigan when they played Ottawa Lake and Temperance-Bedford. She earned the Enterprise Athlete of the week in a 42-38 defeat over Saginaw Valley Lutheran with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
“(Fleis) was an anchor in the middle and so solid all year long and she’s a really good senior leader,” St. Mary coach Clint Couturier said.
Mallory Lowe (Leland)
Leland senior Mallory Lowe earned her selection to the Dream Team for her stellar play in leading the Comets through a tough schedule in 2023-24.
Lowe averaged 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 5.7 steals per game and was a threat to go off night-in and night-out. She was the leading scorer on the team as Lowe earned a second- team all-conference selection thanks to her fierce competitive spirit. In a district semifi nal against Glen Lake, Lowe led the Comets with 19 points pushing the Lakers to the brink. Lowe was honored with a student- athlete award during the boys basketball championships this weekend.
“I really love getting to play with my team and push each other to the hardest. It made us grow closer together,” Lowe said “I think leadership skills was one of the biggest lessons (of this season) and how to lead others. I will be bringing that with me in the future day.” In a three game January stretch, Lowe had 74 points and 23 steals.
SIXTH-GIRL OF THE YEAR: Lauren Lint (Suttons Bay)
Suttons Bay senior Lauren Lint was one player who would do whatever was asked of her, earning her way to the Dream Team.
“(Lint) didn’t give up and a lot of times she had everything on her shoulders. She has perseverance and just keeps going,” Suttons Bay girls basketball coach Mariah Kalchik said.
Lint averaged 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.5 steals on the season leading the Norse in all facets of the game.
Suttons Bay senior Lauren Lint earned the Enterprise Athlete of the Week after she drained a 3-pointer to win against Cadillac Heritage 41-39 on senior night. She had 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 steals in that game.
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Elli Miller (Leland) Della Bunek (St. Mary) Ella Knudsen (Leland)
One thing is for sure, for prep teams on the peninsula sportsmanship is what matters at the end of the day. Lake Leelanau St. Mary senior Della Bunek, Leland junior Elli Miller and Ella Knudsen earned sportsmanship awards from the coaches.
Besides setting the example of how to play the game on the court, Bunek, Miller, and Knudsen played pivotal roles for their respective teams.
Della Bunek led the Eagle’s offense and was relied on to have the ball in her hands at all times. Bunek could be counted on for 8-10 points a game along with several rebounds and a handful of steals night in and night out.
Miller was another stat sheet stuffer for the Comets as she could be counted on to score, rebound, and create havoc on the defensive end. In a game against Buckley, Miller scored 16 points as well as having 21 points against Onekama.
Ella Knudesen also received a sportsmanship player vote and provided quality minutes for the Comets with 4.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Several players earned votes for the Dream Team because of their excellence on the court and can compete with any one on this list.
Kyla Barnowski (St. Mary)
Barnowski received votes to be on the Dream Team because she caused opponents fits all season. The junior averaged 13 points, eight rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.2 steals on the season.
“She can score and rebound,” coach Couturier said. “(Barnowski) was always looking for other people on the team and that was so unselfish.”
Cathryn Mikowski (St. Mary)
This St. Mary junior can play any position at any time. Cathryn Mikowski averaged six points a game and was always a threat to change a game when she is on the court. These two players will be relied upon heavily if the Eagles look to compete in 2024-25.
Jessie Pugh (Glen Lake)
Glen Lake junior Jessie Pugh was the Swiss Army knife she continues to prove to be as she averaged 10.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game.
“(Pugh) is a great competitor. She plays with a great amount of energy. We asked Jessie to guard the other team’s toughest player and also relied on her to be a scorer. Jessie was voted 2nd team all-conference,” Glen Lake coach Brad Fosmore said.
