Last year as a freshman, Kortni Elsworth was good enough to make the Goodrich High School varsity basketball team.
This year as a sophomore, Elsworth improved her game to the point where she became the Martians? leading scorer, and she was recently recognized on a statewide level for her accomplishments.
In the Dec. 4 edition of The Detroit News and Free Press, Elsworth, a 5?4? guard for the Martians, was named an honorable mention selection to The News? Class B All-State girls basketball team.
Last month, Elsworth was a unanimous selection (along with teammate Autumn Haggadone) to the Genesee Area Conference Red Division first team as the Martians won their eighth straight GAC title.
Elsworth is the third Martian in Coach Jason Gray’s seven years as the varsity coach to receive all-state honors from The News ? the other two being Kristen Poulos and Sarah Barns.
Gray said Elsworth improved many aspects of her game this season, her first as a starter after coming off the bench her freshman year.
‘Her rebounding and shooting were much better, and she had the ability to get to the basket and score,? he said. ‘This year, we needed her to be a threat from the outside, and she was able to do that.?
Elsworth said the two games this year that stood out to her the most this year were both away games, against New Lothrop and Hamady (then ranked #1 in the state), that the Martians lost.
‘They were our biggest competition,? she said. ‘We wanted to play better teams so we could become better.?
Next year, Elsworth said she would like for the Martians to win districts and defeat the teams they lost to this season.
Gray said there are still areas of Elsworth’s game that need improvement.
‘She has to work on her ability to finish at the rim,? he said. ‘She has to learn to be a smarter player ? she occasionally got into foul trouble because she was too aggressive. She knows that and she’s looking forward to doing what it takes to improve.?
Elsworth also competed for the Martians? softball and girls? track teams during the 2004-05 school year. However, she said basketball is her favorite sport.
‘It’s a fast-paced game, it’s fun and it’s physical,? she said.
Elsworth is the daughter of Richard and Rebecca Elsworth of Goodrich, and has three siblings: Kirsten, 24; Kirk, 18, a freshman at Western Michigan University and member of the Broncos? football team; and Kyler, 14, a freshman at GHS who is on the Martians? wrestling team.