Courier & Press All-Metro Player of the Year had one of the best girls seasons in SIAC history
EVANSVILLE — Maddy Shirley woke up to a text around 7 a.m. Sunday.
It was a congratulatory message from Central coach David Alexander. The junior forward had been selected to the Indiana Junior All-Star team. A moment which validated her standing among the best players in the state. What she did the past four months was more than just All-Star worthy.
Shirley had one of the best individual seasons in Evansville high school girls’ basketball history.
The Central forward is the Courier & Press All-Metro Player of the Year for the second time, as chosen by the sports staff. It didn’t matter the opponent or the setting – Shirley was the best player of the floor every night.
“In my opinion,” Alexander said. “She’s the best player to ever come through (Central). And she still has one more year left.”
Every metric ranks her junior season in step with, or close to, some of the biggest names in city lore.
Shirley averaged 25.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.5 assists. She did so efficiently – perhaps her greatest strength – on 54 percent shooting from the field, 44 percent from three and 84 percent from the foul line. Shirley set a City and Southern Indiana Athletic Conference single-season record with 715 points.
This is not meant to rank it above all others. Do you prefer Vicki Lander's state-best 31.1 points for Bosse in 1987, or what Maura Muensterman did across multiple seasons for Mater Dei? There are other worthy examples. A deep postseason run also helps with overall numbers. But what Shirley did is squarely in the conversation.
“I was able to score in more ways,” said Shirley. “Last year, I only scored in the post. I feel like I got stronger. I got more confident in ball handling too. When I got smaller defenders, I had more ways to score. I didn’t let them out-physical me.”
The biggest difference from year two, when she was already the best player in Evansville, to year three? Shirley got tougher. In the past, smaller but quicker defenders gave her issues. The 6-1 forward immediately began agility and strength conditioning with Central football coach Brandon Artis. The entire team lifted in season for the first time under Alexander.
Few opponents dared guard her 1-on-1 this winter. Her regular season almost immediately delivered elite moments: 35 against Washington, a triple double at North Posey, 40 versus Avon. She had 35 points and 14 rebounds against Castle to secure the SIAC championship.
The Southern Indiana commit had 22 double-doubles in 28 games. What also gets overlooked is her defensive ability. Shirley already set the Central record for career blocks as a sophomore.
“She’s too quick for a lot of posts,” said Alexander. “Too big and skilled for guards now. It makes her very difficult to guard. She’s always taken whatever challenge we’ve thrown at her. She’s a very high IQ basketball player.”
Shirley saved some of her finest efforts for when it mattered. The junior had 33 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in an overtime victory against Corydon Central – the first regional title in program history. How did she follow that up? Only a school-record 46 points and 13 rebounds in the semistate against No. 1 Greensburg.
That effort ranks eighth in state tournament history for most points in a single game. The Pirates dared her to win the game on her own. She nearly did and made more believers around the state.
“(My teammates) helped me so much,” said Shirley. “They’re such great people and such great basketball players. They helped build my confidence and pushed me every day at practice. They’re a big reason for where I am today.”
Shirley is already Central’s all-time leading scorer at 1,525 points (11th in City and SIAC history). She’s on track to become an Indiana All-Star and an outside candidate for Miss Basketball. Central had its best tournament run ever. What is there left to prove?
Alexander discussed a few goals with his star following the season – the items on that list to remain between them. But if she matches or somehow improves upon her junior campaign, Shirley would finish her high school career in rare air.
“I think she has a chance to do something special individually and as a team,” said Alexander. “But what I told her – if next year turns into the Maddy Shirley show, I don’t know if that happens. You’re going to need a team aspect with you to help make you better, just like this year. We’re going to need a lot of girls to match that same level of success.”
Central returns three starters but loses its best perimeter scorers and defenders. This year’s senior class was instrumental in setting a strong tone within the program. But with Shirley back, one should still label the Bears conference and sectional favorites.
She wants to leave the program in a better position like those who came before her.
“Our goal is to win conference again and make it out of the sectional,” said Shirley. “Focus on one game at a time. For me, now that I’m a senior, hopefully be one of the leaders on the team. Take girls under my wing and push them to be the best that they can be like the older girls have done for me.”
Alexander is the Courier & Press All-Metro Coach of the Year. The Bears went 23-5 and won an outright SIAC title for the first time since 2017. Only one conference opponent played within single digits against Central in the regular season.
2025 Courier & Press All-Metro girls basketball team
Name, School, Ht., Year, PPG
First Team
Myla Browning, Memorial, 5-9, Sr., 14.0
Izabell Grantz, Castle, 5-7, Jr., 11.6
Bailey Hape, Reitz, 5-10, Jr., 15.8
Kaelyse Mitchell, Reitz, 6-5, Sr., 11.3
Jayden Scott, Castle, 5-11, Jr., 14.1
Maddy Shirley, Central, 6-1, Jr., 25.5
Mya Skelton, Central, 5-7, Sr., 10.5
Second Team
Libby Blythe, North, 5-9, Sr., 12.2
Rylee Canaan, Memorial, 6-0, So., 11.7
Azaria Finn, North, 5-6, So., 10.3
Bell Hall, Evansville Christian, Jr., 10.5
Avery Kelley, Central, 5-4, Sr., 6.6
Jordan Scott, Castle, 5-6, Sr., 11.6
Rhyan Wagner, Mater Dei, 5-10, Fr., 11.6
Player of the Year: Maddy Shirley, Central
Coach of the Year: David Alexander, Central
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Central's Maddy Shirley named Evansville All-Metro Player of the Year
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