Video: Madeline Westbeld highlights
Notre Dame signee led Fairmont to a 25-3 record.
Madeline Westbeld admits heading into Fairmont's November showdown with Hamilton Heights Christian Academy of Tennessee, the nation’s No. 2 ranked team, she and her Firebird teams wanted to make a statement.
"We had nothing to lose," Westbeld said. "We wanted to show people who we were."
Message received.
Scoring a career-high 36 points and adding 12 rebounds, eight steals and four assists, Westbeld propelled Fairmont to a 53-46 win over Heights, which to date remains the still-No. 2 ranked Hawks lone loss this season.
That performance – and others like it (she owns 48 career double-doubles) – have landed Westbeld 2019-20 Suddenlink Ohio Player of the Year honors. The Notre Dame recruit has also been named Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Ms. Basketball, Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American. She led her team in scoring (18.0) rebounds (11.2), assists (3.6), steals (2.8) and blocked shots (2.3).
"It’s not everyday you get a 6-foot-3 player that can do everything," Fairmont coach Jeremey Finn said. "There are times she’ll bring the ball up and run the offense. There were times we’d set her on top of our defense. That’s what’s going to make a difference for her at the next level. She can do so many things, and do them well."
Westbeld’s run ended with a 47-41 loss to undefeated Mount Notre Dame in the Division I regional final. The undefeated Cougars are ranked No. 3 in the nation. Westbeld had a team-high 15 points and game-high 11 rebounds.
Fairmont is ranked No. 22 nationally.
"My main focus was a state championship," Westbeld said. "Team goals are what mattered to me."
Westbeld finishes her career with 1,362 points, 968 rebounds, 269 assists, 218 blocks and 199 steals. She announced via Twitter on Oct. 20 that she was going to Notre Dame. The Irish edged her other finalists (Louisville, UCLA, Ohio State and Tennessee).
"She’s willing to play any spot or be where ever she needs to be for the team to succeed," Finn said. "Her versatility certainly propelled us and helped us get to where we got."
OHIO ALL-STATE TEAM PRESENTED BY SUDDENLINK
First Team
5-9| Sophomore | Guard | Uncommitted
Two-time GGCL first team selection and the league player of the year after averaging 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game for the undefeated and No. 3 ranked Cougars. Scored 1,000th point in 47-41 regional final win over Fairmont. Two-time All-Ohioan dropped career-high 40 points on Gahanna Lincoln. Holds numerous offers including South Carolina, Ohio State, Xavier and Louisville.
Aubryanna Hall, Wayne (Huber Heights)
6-0 | Junior | Guard | Uncommitted
Top
prospect was All-Ohio, All-Southwest District and All-GWOC (three-time
first team). Averaged 21.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. Has reached
double-figures in 36 straight games and is over 1,000-career points.
Suitors include Tennessee, South Carolina, Ohio State, Dayton, UCLA,
Rutgers and Louisville.
5-10 | Senior | Small Forward | Cleveland State
Ms. Basketball runner-up and D-I Northeast Lakes District player of the year ended career as one of Ohio’s top 25 all-time scorers (her 2,227 career points ranks No. 24). Averaged 24.8 points and 7.9 rebounds. Two-time first team All-Ohioan also had 747 career rebounds, 263 assists, 217 steals and 132 blocked shots. Started all 103 high school games (88 wins) she played in. Scored career-high 44 points as junior.
6-2 | Sophomore | Forward | Uncommitted
Ms.
Basketball finalist and D-I Northwest District player of the year is a
two-time first team All-Ohioan. Averaged 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Owns over 30 scholarship offers, including Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio
State, Dayton and Louisville.
6-2 | Senior | Forward | Notre Dame
Resume is unrivaled – Ohio Ms. Basketball (OPSWA), Ohio D-I Player of the Year, Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and McDonald’s All-American.
Aurora junior Shyanne Sellers, a Ms. Basketball finalist, holds over 30 scholarship offers, including Notre Dame, Maryland, Louisville, Indiana, Florida State and UCLA.
Photo by Jeff Harwell
5-6 | Senior | Guard | Dayton
Named All-Ohio, All-Southwest District and All-GGCL. Averaged 16.2 points, 5.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals for undefeated and nationally-ranked Cougars.
6-2 | Junior | Guard | Uncommitted
Ms.
Basketball finalist and D-I Northeast Inland District player of the
year averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.3 steals and two
blocks. Holds over 30 scholarship offers, including Notre Dame,
Maryland, Louisville, Indiana, Florida State and UCLA. Two-time first
team All-Ohio.
6-4 | Senior | Post | Rutgers
Averaged
14 points (shot 63 percent from the floor), seven rebounds and five blocks for
the two-time defending D-III state champion Nubians. Is the daughter of former NBA player Samaki Walker.
5-10 | Junior | Guard | Uncommitted
Division IV Ohio Player of the year averaged 27.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and five steals. Three-time All-Ohioan spent first two years of career at Toledo Rogers (Rams won back-to-back D-II state titles). Holds multiple offers, including Kentucky, DePaul and Northwestern.
5-8 | Senior | Guard | Minnesota
Averaged 13 points, five rebounds and three steals while shooting 59 percent from the field and 39 percent percent from 3. Helped Nubians advance to fifth straight state tournament. Two-time D-III All-Ohio and three-time All-Columbus City League.
Third Team
5-7 | Senior | Guard | Miami (Ohio)
Ms. Basketball finalist averaged 16.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.7 steals. Four-year starter is the program’s all-time leading scorer.
6-1 | Junior | Guard | West Virginia
Named first team All-Ohio, All-Central District and All-Ohio Capital Conference. Averaged 15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the D-I regional champion Wildcats.
6-3 | Junior | Post | Uncommitted
Northwest District D-III POY and three-time OPSWA All-Ohioan averaged 24.1 points and 10.9 rebounds en route to leading team to undefeated regular season. Holds over a dozen scholarship offers.
Chance Gray, Lakota West (West Chester)
5-10 | Sophomore | Forward | Uncommitted
Two-time first team Greater Miami Conference selection named the player of the year after averaging 20.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Carries a 4.06 GPA. Holds 11 offers, including Louisville, Ohio State, Dayton, Northwestern and Indiana.
5-10 | Sophomore | Guard | Uncommitted
First team D-I All-Ohio selection dropped career-high 39 points on Mount Notre Dame. Averaged 18.9 points, eight rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals. Holds offers from over 20 schools, including Tennessee, Dayton, Ohio State, Northwestern and Louisville.
