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The Kokomo Kiwanis Club held its 41st annual Howard County Girls Basketball Banquet on Feb. 29, recognizing the area’s best players for their contributions on and off the court. The banquet is the longest-running awards ceremony of its kind in the state.
This year, Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore served as master of ceremonies for the event. He spent time acknowledging the rise in interest in women’s basketball and recognizing the accomplishments of the players in the room. He encouraged the young women to continue pushing against the boundaries society has placed upon them.
He quoted WNBA star Candace Parker in challenging the ladies to excel.
“Barrier breaking is about not staying in your lane and not being something that the world expects you to be. It's about not accepting limitations. It starts with inspiration. And it's a foundation built upon picking apart what everybody thinks is the right way to do things.”
After dinner, the awards were given out to the top players. Kokomo’s Aijia Elliot was awarded for highest points per game (15.1), finishing her career with 1,139 points, and being named the MVP in Howard County.
Kokomo’s Kamaria White received an award for leading the county in assists per game (3.5), while Northwestern’s Lexi Hale was recognized for recording the most rebounds per game (7.9). Western’s Mackenzie York took home the award for most steals per game (3.0).
Aviannah Pollard of Kokomo was honored for achieving the highest free throw percentage (90 percent), and Western’s Lauren Bradley was celebrated for achieving the highest grade point average (4.7).
The Kokomo Kiwanis Club was chartered in May 1920. It has been known as a strong supporter of youth in the community, and for the past 41 years the club has hosted the Howard County Girls Basketball Banquet.
The club gives out awards and scholarships annually and supports area youth through the Carver Community Center, Howard County 4H, Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, the local UAW School Supplies program, Kokomo Urban Outreach, the Jim “Moose” Carden Fishing Clinic, and the Kokomo Parks and Recreation Department Easter Egg Hunt.
The Kiwanis Club of Kokomo meets each Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Kokomo Country Club. Those interested in joining are welcome to attend. For additional information, visit the Kiwanis Club of Kokomo Facebook page.