Three Dragons have been named all-stars by a vote of the region’s coaches, including the co-region player of the year, junior Sammie Ruhlman. Also a junior, Halle Kuzminski joins Ruhlman on the Region 5 first team, and sophomore teammate Alana Stuart made the second team.

“Sammie was our steady rock throughout the season with her ability to run the point for us,” said Warren coach Lisa LaVan. “She does a great job controlling the tempo for us and knowing when to slow things down for a really fast team. She is a pass-first point guard, which was fun to watch this year. Her defense was also great throughout the season for us. She has great length sitting at 5-foot-11 now.”

Ruhlman averaged more than 9 points per game, plus six assists and five rebounds. Kuzminski and Stuart averaged more than 8 points each, and Kuzminski led the team with more than seven rebounds a game.

“Halle is a beast,” said LaVan. “I love her game and she has really made a name for herself. She can defend anyone on the floor 1-5 and she is now scoring more. She is a rebounding machine and, next year, expect almost every game will be a double/double for her.

Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Attempting to beat the press is Warren’s Region 5 second-team all-star Alana Stuart.

“Alana has a knack for scoring and that helped us many times this season,” added LaVan. “She is one of the smartest players I have ever coached. She also has a toughness about her that is hard to guard. I wouldn’t mess with her.”

It’s no secret that all three, and all but one of the rest of the team, will be back in 2023-2024.

“It is three years in a row now we have had a region player of the year in our program,” said LaVan. “Tradition doesn’t graduate. This team wanted that region title and worked hard in a new system to get it done. Icing on the cake to have two on first team and one on second team. Truthfully, with the balance of this team, any seven of our players could have been selected.”

REGION 5 GIRLS’ ALL-STARS

FIRST TEAM

Lainie Harrington, Conneaut, so.

Sammie Ruhlman, Warren, jr.

Halle Kuzminski, Warren, jr.

Tayler Elchynski, Corry, sr.

Estella Adams, Franklin, jr.

Hannah Brady, Conneaut, jr.

SECOND TEAM

Maddy Marczak, Oil City, sr.

Katie Boal, Franklin, so.

Alana Stuart, Warren, so.

Jamie Blum, Franklin, jr.

Eliza Harrington, Conneaut, sr.

Region champion – Warren

Region co-players of the year – Lainie Harrington, Conneaut, and Sammie Ruhlman, Warren