SALINEVILLE — The Southern Local girls basketball followed freshman Katie Kellogg to a season of many firsts — including a school-best 24-1 season, their first unbeaten regular season and their first district final appearance since 1995.

“It’s no joke when they say she slept with her basketball since the third grade,” Southern coach Mike Skrinjar said.

Kellogg was named to the Division VII All-Ohio third team Monday after taking the Indians to the next level.

“The best part of her game is her mentality and ability to impact the game in every phase,” Skrinjar said. “More times than not, she makes the play.”

Kellogg was the area’s second-leading scorer behind Crestview’s Addison Rhodes, averaging 22.8 points, 8.2 assists, 10.0 rebounds and 7.5 steals a game — all team highs.

“It’s not just her ability to score, but she wants to do whatever it takes to win,” Skrinjar said. “She raises level of everyone’s game. It’s difficult for a freshman to come in and become the voice of the team. She did that, along with Kalayah (Crute).”

Kellogg also set single-season school records for most assists (203) and most steals (187). She showed her versatility by having two quadruple-doubles this season.

“Coming into the year, we had something to prove,” Skrinjar said. “We had a mesh of seniors and juniors and then those three freshmen. I knew once that got going, we would be tough to beat.”

The Indians were, claiming the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference outright — their second league title since 1990 — as well as their first Ohio Valley Athletic Conference title.

“Look all the big games Katie had, she rose to the occasion,” Skrinjar said. “When you have that type of a competitor, you have that edge.

“We really felt we had something to prove. In the league, we knew we had to come after Columbiana because they have had our number. Then we had United, which is our neighbor.”

Kellogg made 60 three-pointers and shot 80% from the foul line, including 90% over the last six games.

Kellogg finished her freshman season with 569 points. She may have a shot at the Columbiana County record of 2,484 points set by Crestview senior Addison Rhodes.

“What Addison accomplished is amazing,” Skrinjar said. “That’s not one of Katie’s main focuses. But if she can set those records in wins — she wants to win every game and every battle — records come with it. She wants to win and dominate.”

Southern senior Allyssa Shroades also received All-Ohio honorable mention. She was the Indians’ outside threat when teams converged on Kellogg.

Shroades set school records for most three-pointers in a season (81) and career (220) on the way to 1,020 career points. This season she averaged 14.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 5.9 steals a game.

She hit the game-winning layup at the buzzer after Kellogg had fouled out to lift the Indians over Columbiana for the outright EOAC title.

“We talked at the end of the season, ‘What’s it going to do to replicate it next year? We need to be two weeks past the district tournament,'” Skrinjar said. “We have an extra chip on our shoulder.”

See page B6 for the complete Division VI All-Ohio girls basketball team.