Former 9th Region standout Martin excels at KWC; Transy’s Cox named HCAC Player of the Year

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

After scoring more than 1,600 career points while playing at three high schools, Jenna Martin found a home this season at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

The Dry Ridge native averaged a team-leading 12.3 points per game for Kentucky Wesleyan and helped the Panthers post a 15-12 record. Martin scored in double figures 14 times this season, including five games with at least 20 points.

Martin poured in a career-high 32 points during a 75-67 loss against Walsh on March 1 in the quarterfinals of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament. The 5-foot-5 freshman finished 12-for-19 from the field and buried five shots from 3-point range in that game.

For the season, Martin shot 38-for-104 from beyond the arc and collected 46 steals. She also dished out 53 assists and started 23 times.

Martin began her varsity basketball career at Grant County High School, where she averaged 8.8 points per contest as an eighth-grader. She also played at Grant County as a freshman, when the Lady Braves finished 10-16 overall and lost in the first round of district action.

Martin then transferred to Notre Dame Academy and averaged 8.9 points per game her sophomore year. As a junior, Martin scored a team-leading a 14.8 points per contest for Notre Dame and helped the Pandas post a 19-9 record. She was also named all-region by the coaches.

Having already played at two schools, Martin finished her prep career at Highlands in 2016-17. She averaged 17.1 points per game as the Bluebirds won the 36th District championship and finished with a 22-9 record.

Martin drained a team-leading 88 shots from 3-point range as a senior, made 75.3 percent of her free throws and also earned a spot on the 9th Region all-star team. She finished her prep career with 1,642 points.

SIMON KENTON GRAD EARNS HONOR: Transylvania University senior forward Rachel Cox was chosen as the 2017-18 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Cox, a native of Independence and a graduate of Simon Kenton High School, led Transylvania to a 21-6 record this season. She topped the conference in scoring at 15.0 points per game and made 51.3 percent of her attempts from the field. Cox also connected on 41 shots from 3-point range.

In addition, Cox averaged 7.1 rebounds per contest and shot 82 percent from the free-throw line. The 6-foot forward also led the HCAC in blocks with 3.04 rejections per game, and she ranked 10th nationally in the NCAA Division III statistics in total blocks with 82 on the season.

Cox produced 22 double-digit scoring games and four double-doubles this season. On Feb. 17, Cox scored her 1,000th career point, becoming the 20th player in Transylvania women’s basketball history to join the 1,000-point club.

During her junior year, Cox averaged 12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. She was named HCAC Player of the Week twice and earned first team All-HCAC accolades. Cox was also selected to the HCAC All-Academic Team and earned the Pat Deacon Classic Tournament most valuable player recognition.

As a senior at Simon Kenton, Cox averaged 8.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest as the Pioneers posted a 29-4 record and advanced to the 8th Region Tournament championship game. She was also named all-region and all-district as a senior.

VOSKUHL STARS AT CSU: Former Notre Dame Academy standout Olivia Voskuhl wrapped up an impressive career at Cleveland State University this season by averaging 12.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The Elsmere native also shot 45.5 percent from the field as the Vikings posted a 19-11 record.

Voskuhl, a 5-foot-10 forward, scored in double figures 21 times as a senior. Her best performance was a 21-point effort during a 71-60 upset against No. 19 Green Bay on Feb. 15. She also grabbed six rebounds and added three steals as Cleveland State knocked off the nationally ranked Phoenix. In addition, Voskuhl became the 29th player in Cleveland State history reach 1,000 career points during that victory against Green Bay.

As a high school standout, Voskuhl helped Notre Dame win three consecutive district championships. The Pandas won the 9th Region title and were 29-6 her senior season, finishing as state runners-up. Voskuhl led Notre Dame in scoring and rebounding her final three seasons, averaging 16.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game a senior. She also reached the 1,000-point milestone during the middle of her senior year.

TIBBS, SCHWARTZ PLAY KEY ROLES AT BELLARMINE: Junior center Liza Tibbs (Dixie Heights) and sophomore forward Mallory Schwartz (Ryle) helped Bellarmine finish with a 16-12 record this season. The 6-foot-3 Tibbs led Bellarmine in field-goal percentage (.548) and blocked shots (17). She also averaged 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 28 games.

Tibbs scored a season-high 26 points against Ohio Dominican on Dec. 19, making 11 field goals in 15 attempts. The Taylor Mill native also netted 19 points against Wisconsin-Parkside on Jan. 13. Tibbs is a two-time Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection.

As a senior at Dixie Heights, Tibbs averaged 15.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. She also shot 66.5 percent from the field.

Schwartz appeared in 27 games with 20 starts for Bellarmine this season. She finished third on the team in rebounds (4.7), steals (36) and blocks (13) while averaging 5.4 points per contest. She netted a season-high 15 points twice and grabbed 10 rebounds against Ohio Dominican on Dec. 19.

In addition, Schwartz was named Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference as a freshman.

Schwartz was voted 9th Region co-Player of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches as a senior and was a finalist for Miss Basketball. She averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game her senior campaign as Ryle posted a 24-7 record.

TUCKER EARNS FRESHMAN HONOR: Holy Cross High School graduate Alehia Tucker was named to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team this season after enjoying a solid first year at Mount St. Joseph. The 5-foot-5 Tucker averaged 10.5 points per game as the Lions posted a 10-16 record.

Tucker recorded 12 games of double-figure scoring this season. She poured in a career-high 29 points during a 72-68 loss at Franklin (Ind.) on Feb. 10. In that game, Tucker drained five 3-pointers and also grabbed 10 rebounds.

For the season, Tucker also averaged 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.2 assists per contest. Mount St. Joseph finished with a 6-12 record in the HCAC and improved its overall win total by eight games from the previous season, when the Lions finished 2-23.

Mount St. Joseph also posted a 5-7 record at home this season following an 0-10 mark on its own court the previous year.

While at Holy Cross, Tucker helped the Indians win the 2015 state championship during her sophomore year by averaging 6.9 points per contest. Holy Cross posted a 33-3 record that season.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport