2017 IFN Player of the Year: Aly Reiff. (File photos by Nick Goralczyk)

SOUTH WHITLEY — Just as in years past, deciding the area’s top players was no cake walk. There was plenty of back and forth, a few arguments, and there remains a few ongoing disputes. But when the dust finally settled on the 2016-17 girls hoops regular season, one player was simply too hard to ignore.

Whitko’s Aly Reiff has been one of the area’s most dominant players over the course of her career and that fact was only further solidified this past season. Her efforts helped to reset the record books in several areas once more in South Whitley and she is, without a doubt, a deserving recipient of this year’s top honor.

“She’s always been one of the most humble players that I’ve ever coached,” remarked Whitko head coach Brandon Bradley. “She always puts winning ahead of personal success and goals. She’s so easy to coach. She hates the spotlight, she hates interviews, she hates the cameras. She just loves to go out and play and give her best for her teammates. What else could you ask for from a star player?”

Reiff’s per game averages were astonishing this past regular season. The future Xavier Musketeer dropped 17.6 points per game to go along with 7.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 1.5 blocks. Reiff’s numbers led the Wildcats in every category.

The assists number speaks right to Bradley’s point of Reiff’s selfless play. Reiff totaled 131 assists in the regular season, which meant that she assisted just over one in every four baskets made by Whitko during its most successful campaign in school history. On the court, there is not doubting Reiff’s trust in her teammates, but that kind of trust starts off the court.

“I love my teammates, I wouldn’t trade them for anything,” Reiff said. “From the beginning of the season, I knew we had a very special group. You could tell during open gyms and in practice that everyone was invested in what we were doing. Everyone was so excited to see what we could do this season.”

Brianna Cumberland (left) and Reiff (right) were known for their on-court chemistry.

Reiff had a story to go along with each of her senior classmates. The bond for the players was easy to see on and off the court throughout the season and that helped to make the ride all that more enjoyable.

The regular season success was hard to ignore. The Wildcats set school records for wins (21), winning percentage (.808) and longest winning streak (10). The most notable team achievement was done in the polls as the Wildcats found themselves ranked No. 1 for the first time ever and kept that ranking for 10 weeks in Class 2-A. All told, Reiff and Whitko set 13 new single-season program records in 2016-17.

In addition to already holding career records in nearly every major statistical category, Reiff went ahead and set new single game records for points (43 vs. Huntington North) and assists (15 vs. Peru) as well as a handful of other records and milestones this past season. One of those accolades included a prestigious McDonald’s All-American nomination as well as an IBCA Player of the Week nod for the week of Nov. 14-19.

She remains well atop the list of all-time scorers at Whitko with 1,746 points. Teammates Brianna Cumberland is the next closest at 1,150. Those two are the only in program history to eclipse the 1,000-point threshold.

Reiff and Cumberland have been the poster players for success during their four-year career, along with fellow seniors Kennedy Krull, Hanna Yohe, Haley Yohe and Brooke Christoffel.

While the girls were unable to bring home the program’s first-ever sectional title, Reiff hopes the impact they leave behind is still a big one, “I hope that my class was able to show the girls that come after us that when you stick together and play for the girls next to you, you’re able to accomplish far more than you would on your own.

“It’s not about what you do personally, it’s about how you contribute to your team and make your teammates better. When you learn to play for each other, the success comes so much easier.”

What better message could you ask for from a star player?

The rest of the All-IFN team will be released later in the day.

The true bond that Reiff had with her team may have been best displayed on her signing day.