Larry Vaught Photos
Jaidan Koch is Calloway County’s fourth all-time leading scorer (2,058 points), all-time leader in assists (516) and 3-point field goals, and third all-time in steals (327).
She helped Calloway win the First Region title for the first time since 2011 and played Saturday night in the Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game at Thomas More University in Crestview Hills and in June will play in the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star Games.
However, she has also earned all-state honors in two other sports — track and cross county.
“I run the mile and the 800 (meter) and 400 (meter) and like middle and long distance running for track. But then the cross country coach asked me if I could do a ‘huge’ favor and run cross country. I did and ended up having a really good experience the last two years,” said Koch, who will play college basketball at the University of Southern Indiana.
“I wanted to get faster for basketball, so that is why I started running track and it really helped that and also just staying in shape from the high school season to AAU season.”
However, she will always be most proud of what she did on the basketball court despite her cross country/track success.
“Basketball is my sport and those memories will stay with me the longest. Getting to state with all my best friends and winning the region was just special. We played Marshall County in the regional championship last year and fell short. We knew this season should be our year. We should have won last year but we definitely wanted to win for the community this year. We all know a bunch of people and so many people supposed us all year and wanted it as much as we did.”
Koch has been playing basketball since seventh grade after growing up as a soccer player.
“My mom always played basketball and tried to push me into it, and I never really was interested. Then I tried it one time, and I absolutely loved it,” she said.
Koch, who averaged 17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game last season, was happy to be invited to play in the Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game.
“I know a lot of great players have played in this game and I knew it was a great opportunity for me that I definitely wanted to take advantage of,” she said. “I already knew quite a few of the girls from Kentucky all-stars last year and some we had also played against.”
She’s also thrilled to be part of the Kentucky-Indiana series after playing for the Kentucky junior all-stars last year.
“Being on that team has been a goal of mine for a very long time knowing the history of that game. I know it is going to be a really fun experience and I am grateful for the opportunity,” the Calloway standout said. “I hoped being on the junior team would help me make the team this year but I still feel so blessed and thankful that I am on the team.
“It was also great to get to play in this game with some girls that will also be playing against Indiana to give us more experience together. A lot of us were already familiar with each other but the more you play, the better. Building relationships is important.”
