This is the 2026 The Daily News All-Area Girls’ Basketball Team, which recognizes the area’s best high school players from this past season. Coaches were able to nominate their own players for first, second or third team.

FIRST TEAM

Lily Borden, Dixon: The sophomore averaged 15 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals and two assists per ga me to help the Bulldogs finish 13-11 overall and 5-7 in the Coastal 5-A/6-A Conference – the most overall wins since they went 13-13 in 2018. Borden had 11 games where she scored at least 15 points, including a season-high 30 in a 46-37 victory over Trask. Her best overall game came when she had 28 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists in a 53-41 win over Trask. Borden was second team last year.

Kinsey Cave, East Duplin: The junior averaged 14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.9 steals to lead the Panthers to a 20-7 overall record, second place in the East Central 3-A/4-A Conference at 8-2, the league’s tournament title and a 4-A third-round playoff appearance. Cave had 14 games with at least 15 points with one of her best performances coming when she had 23 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks in a 53-43 ECC tournament final victory over Clinton. Cave is first team for the second consecutive year.

Izabella Hernandez, Jacksonville: The junior averaged 20.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 steals and two assists for the Cardinals, who were 17-10 overall, second in the Big Carolina 6-A/7-A Conference at 8-2 and advanced to the third round of the 6-A playoffs. Hernandez recorded 24 games with at least 15 points, including 18 with at least 20. Her best game came when she had 34 points, nine rebounds, 11 steals and two assists in a 65-23 win over New Bern. Hernandez was second team last year.

Addison King, Swansboro: The junior averaged 12.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 2.8 assists to help the Pirates go 16-7 overall, finish second in the Coastal 5-A/6-A Conference at 10-2 and advance to the third round of the 6-A playoffs – the 16 wins were the most since going 18-7 in 2020. KIng scored at least 12 points in 12 different games with her best overall effort coming when she recorded 12 points, 19 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block in a 48-39 win over Northside. King was second team last season.

Neely McMannen, Croatan: The senior averaged 14 points, 3.7 steals, 2.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds to lead the Cougars to a 23-4 overall record, a 12-0 Coastal 5-A/6-A Conference mark – their second consecutive league title – the league’s tournament crown and a 5-A third-round playoff appearance. McMannen had 22 games scoring in double figures, including a season-best 28 in a 49-35 victory over Dixon and 24 in a 53-24 victory over Havelock. McMannen is first team for the second consecutive year.

Madyson Wills, Northside: The senior averaged 10.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and one steal for the Monarchs, who were 10-11 overall and 6-6 in the Coastal 5-A/6-A Conference – their most wins since going 9-13 in 2018. Wills had nine double-digit scoring games and 17 games with more than 10 rebounds. One of her best games came when she recorded 15 points, 21 rebounds and four blocks in a 48-39 loss to Swansboro but she also had 13 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocks, one assist and one steal in a 53-51 win over West Carteret. Willis was second team last year.

SECOND TEAM

Destini Benton, Jacksonville, Jr., 14.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.4 apg

Sidney Ferguson, White Oak, Soph., 12.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 apg, 1.8 spg

Mattie Floyd, Swansboro, Jr., 10.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3 spg, 1.3 apg

Aariel Jemison, White Oak, Sr., 11.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.8 spg, 1.6 apg

Brinkleyanne Lucas, Southwest, Soph., 15 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.7 spg, 2.7 rpg

Mia Wells, Richlands, Sr., 9.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3 spg, 2.9 apg

THIRD TEAM

Jade Dollar, Southwest, Sr., 9.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.5 apg

Kylie Hayward, Richlands, Fr., 11.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 spg, 1 apg

Leah Johnson, Croatan, Soph., 9.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.2 bpg, 1.7 apg, 1.3 apg

Andraia Scarborough, East Duplin, Sr., 6.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.7 spg, 1 apg

Saniyah Serrano, Northside, Sr., 7.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3 apg, 2.3 spg

Hollyn Thigpen, Liberty Christian, Jr., 14.1 ppg, 4.6 spg, 1.2 rpg