JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The history runs deep at Bishop Kenny. Kathleen Crawley knew all about it.
So, when the Crusaders, led by the Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls basketball player of the year, brought home the first state championship since 1992, it was a title shared by more than just Crawley and her teammates.
Recommended Videos
“Our word for this year was legacy. And so we kind of stayed focused on that. There’s been so many great players that have come before us, come before me at Bishop Kenny that haven’t gotten the job done and they’ve been so close so many times,” said Crawley, a 5-11 guard who averaged 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds a game for the 28-4 Crusaders.
“So, we kind of just had that as our focus this whole season. We really wanted to do it for them and the players that have come before us.”
The legacy at Bishop Kenny is well known. The signs on the wall in the gym tell the story of it. The Crusaders and Ribault are the only local teams to win three or more consecutive championships. Ribault won five straight (1999 to 2003). Kenny won three in a row between 1990 and ’92.
Since the last title of that threepeat, Kenny has been so close only to see a championship slip away.
Crawley was a freshman on the last Crusaders team that reached the state championship game (2024). She was also on Kenny squad that stumbled in the regional finals in 2025, a loss that ended a six-year run of making it least four rounds deep into the postseason.
“Bishop Kenney girls basketball, I feel like it’s such a tight-knit family,” she said. “Even when you graduate, there’s alumni coming back, watching the games, coming to practices and whatnot, which is really, really special. We really cherish that.”
The alumni at Kenny have had plenty of reason to come back and cheer on current players.
Kenny made it to at least the state semifinals from 2019 to 2024. They were state runners-up four of those six years (2019-20, ’23-24). Crawley said the loss in the regional round in 2025 was something that players and head coach Will Mayer kept in their back pocket throughout this season as motivation for what could happen if they weren’t at their best.
“I honestly think it kind of just made us better,” Crawley said. “We knew every single game we were going to get our opponents’ best. And so, we kind of like craved that in a way.”
Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls basketball players of the year
| Year | Player, School |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Kathleen Crawley, Bishop Kenny |
| 2024-25 | Abby Knauff, Bolles |
| 2023-24 | Clare Coyle, Bishop Kenny |
| 2022-23 | Taliah Scott, St. Johns Country Day |
| 2021-22 | Taliah Scott, St. Johns Country Day |
| 2020-21 | Jasmyne Roberts, Bishop Kenny |
| 2019-20 | Jasmyne Roberts, Bishop Kenny |
Kenny got everything it wanted in the regional rounds this year. The Crusaders edged rival Ribault in a 45-43 thriller and then hung on for a 54-53 win against Fort Walton Beach in the third round. Those challenging playoff games and Kenny’s ability to persevere in them made what happened next feel almost like a breather.
The state series round, in Jacksonville for the first time for the girls, felt like it was a coronation for the Crusaders. They were more than ready.
Kenny rolled past Plantation American Heritage (52-38) and Orlando Bishop Moore (58-48) at UNF for a championship that was decades in the making.
“We knew it [the challenges] was coming, but I think that honestly made us better just because Coach Mayer works and he works so hard and he puts together such a hard schedule for us,” Crawley said. “We know that we’re going to be battle tested, but we honestly loved that. … It just meant a lot for us to always do it for the people that have come before us.”
Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls basketball
First team
Position, Player, School, Class, Notable
G Trinity Berry, Ribault, Jr.
Combo guard had career-best 20.3 scoring average. First-team All-News4JAX last season. Has scored 1,049 career points. Has committed to Longwood.
G/F Audrey Beyer, Tocoi Creek, Sr.
Six-foot wing improved every season. Averaged 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. All-time leading scorer in Toros history (1,518 points in three seasons). With freshman totals from season at Bartram Trail, scored 1,664 career points.
G Kathleen Crawley, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
Led Crusaders to their first state championship since 1992. Averaged 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds per game for 28-4 Kenny. Has scored 1,140 career points. Shot 39% from 3-point arc. Third-team selection on All-News4JAX team last year.
G Morgan Cremen, Beachside, Sr.
Starter for the Barracudas since the school opened. Averaged career-best 20.6 points, 6.2 steals and 5.6 rebounds a game. Dished out 5.5 assists per game. Scored 1,354 points in her career. Multiple votes from coaches as area’s top player. Third-team All-News4JAX last year.
G/F Kasey Davey, Providence, Sr.
Four-year player for the Stallions who had career season. Led team in scoring (17.5 ppg) and second in rebounding (7.4 pg). Finished career with 1,169 points. Two-time All-News4JAX selection.
G Evie Freeman, Bolles, Sr.
Four-year starter who scored 1,387 career points. Led Bulldogs to back-to-back berths in the state semifinals and a runner-up spot (2025). Career-high 15.2 ppg scoring average as a senior. Averaged 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.5 steals a game for 25-5 Bolles.
Second team
Position, Player, School, Class, Notable
G Shelby Gaines, Bishop Snyder, Sr.
Scored 1,098 points over last two seasons. Averaged 24 points, 8.6 rebounds a game for 16-12 Cardinals. Headed to Florida State College at Jacksonville.
G Jocelyn Hoffman, Ponte Vedra, So.
Leading scorer for 23-7 Sharks. Averaged 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3 steals per game. Has scored 796 points in her career.
G Lena Most, San Jose Prep, Sr.
Catalyst to the best season in program history for the Storm. Averaged 14 points, 8 assists and 5.2 rebounds a game as team went 20-10 and reached Class 2A state semifinals.
G Kendall Proffitt, St. Johns Country Day, So.
Has played since sixth grade and already a well-known scorer. Averaged career-best 29.4 ppg this season. Added 8.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3 steals. Shot 48% from 3-point arc.
F Julianna Baskin, Providence, Sr.
Two-sport star and Tampa volleyball signee. Career-best 15.7 ppg and 10.6 rpg in final season. Just 10th player in school history to eclipse 1,000 career points (1,070) and pulled down 884 rebounds.
C Terrell McCoy, Bolles, Sr.
Second-team All-News4JAX selection last year. Averaged 11.9 points, 6.9 rebounds a game for state semifinalist Bulldogs. Scored 718 points in two seasons. Signed with University of Illinois for track and field.
Third team
Position, Player, School, Class, Notable
G/F Gianna Crawford, Fleming Island, So.
Excellent second season for the Golden Eagles. Averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds a game as 16-12 Fleming Island made the state playoffs. Honorable mention All-News4JAX last year.
G/F Alyssa Donohue, Bartram Trail, Sr.
Team leader for the Bears. Averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds a game for 16-10 Bartram as team won three playoff games on the road to reach state semifinals.
G Shea Donovan, Bishop Kenny, Fr.
True point guard for the Crusaders. Two-sport star who also starred in soccer (17 goals) and helped push team to state semis. Averaged 7.6 points, 5.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds a game for 28-4 state champs.
G Gabrielle Iturralde, Tocoi Creek, Jr.
Combo guard for the fifth-year program. Averaged 12.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.6 steals a game. Has scored 1,064 points in her career.
G Presley Norman, Bolles, Jr.
Has contributed on varsity team since seventh grade. Averaged 11.4 points, 4 assists and 3.6 steals per game. Honorable mention All-News4JAX last year.
G Sophia Scibelli, Menendez, Sr.
Best season of her career across the board. Scoring (19.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg) were both the best in her four seasons. Finished career with 1,423 career points.
Honorable mention
Position, Player, School, Class
G Esa Brenneman, Bartram Trail, Jr.
G Narissa Blocton, Ridgeview, Sr.
G Presley Brinkley, Creekside, Sr.
F Holeigh Brown, Sandalwood, So.
F Miranda Campos, Bartram Trail, Sr.
G Bella Carbert, Riverside, Fr.
F/C Mia Chandler, San Jose Prep, Sr.
F/C Alia Chmura, Clay, So.
G Ella Crowe, Orange Park, So.
F Audra Davis, Ponte Vedra, Fr.
F Elle Deegan, Bishop Kenny, Jr.
F Makala DesJarlais, Bishop Kenny, Jr.
F Trinity Dinkins, Orange Park, So.
F Mariska Dize, Florida Deaf, Sr.
G Naomi Gill, Tocoi Creek, Fr.
F Casey Eliason, Nease, Sr.
G/F Ar’Nayshia Griffin, Bradford, Sr.
F Zara Griffith, Episcopal, Sr.
F Seven Gourdet, Fleming Island, So.
G Kirsten Gudmalin, Sandalwood, Sr.
G/F Alyssa Hallman, Hilliard, Sr.
G Rebekah Harmer, Harvest Community, Sr.
G Yamise Haygood, Baker County, Jr.
G Aiyana Haynes, Middleburg, Jr.
F Imani Henderson, White, Sr.
G/F Rheyna Hilton, Yulee, Sr.
F/C Trinity Hodge, Paxon, Jr.
G/F Ya’Zuri Hollie, Fort White, Jr.
F/G Madison Holmes-Price, Jackson, Sr.
F Jennell Houston, NFEI, Sr.
G Skylar Hudson, Old Plank Christian, Sr.
G Kennedy Jeffress, Middleburg, Fr.
G Sawsan Kamara, NFEI, Jr.
F/G Jordyn Knight, Pason, Jr.
G Kamya Leroy, Ribault, Jr.
G Kennedy Loux, Providence, Sr.
G Gabby Mallory, Orange Park, So.
C Brie McCoy, Creekside, Sr.
G Angel McClellon, St. Augustine, Sr.
G Danae Moncrieffe, Yulee, Fr.
G Teaghan Moses, Clay, Sr.
C Madilyn Ray, Beachside, Sr.
G Abby Robinson, Nease, Sr.
G Audrey Rollins, Nease, Jr.
G Reah Saunders, Hilliard, 8th
G Lola Scardelli, St. Joseph, Fr.
G Jorrdann Sibley, NFEI, So.
G Aiyanna Smiley, Stanton, Sr.
G Chloe Spencer-Gardner, Ponte Vedra, So.
G Alanna Tatum, Potters House, Sr
G Zariona Thomas, White, Jr.
G Brinkley Todd, Oakleaf, Fr.
F Falisa White, San Jose Prep, Jr.
G Isabelle Williams, St. Joseph, Jr.
G Tasandra Williams, Jackson, Jr.
F/C Jahlaya Wilson, Fort White, Jr.
F/C Tonya Young, Eagle’s View, 8th