MANTON — Note to coaches scouting Manton girls basketball: Don’t even think about pressing.
The Rangers possess a one-person press break by the name of Aubrey Hiller.
“Manton is almost impossible to full-court press,” Lake City coach Bill Tisron said. “She is a one-man press break.”
Among many, that talent is one that helped Hiller earn her 2025-26 Record-Eagle girls basketball Player of the Year.
Hiller used her free time during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve at basketball. She wasn’t quite yet in middle school, but already looking toward the future.
“That was definitely when I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to get better,'” Hiller said. “I didn’t have anything else to do.”
She practiced dribbling and ball handling for hours in the family basement and garage. She did Zoom sessions with former Petoskey star Trevor Huffman, competing with her brother and others.
Now she does that on her own, running youth clinics to teach dribbling and ball-handling skills.
About 15 kids showed up for the first one, then another just before spring break. Her most recent had over 20 players in attendance, where she taught young players how to improve footwork, step up speed while dribbling and changing pace while dribbling to keep defenders off guard.
“It’s been really fun,” said Hiller, who intends to major in psychology in college. “It’s something I can give to give to kids and still use it as a summer job.”
The sessions are typically for kids in grades 1-8. Mostly girls, but not always. They come from all around, as far away at Lake City.
Manton girls basketball coach J.P. Katona said he plans to use Hiller’s talents at the Rangers’ summer youth camp, having her instruct youngsters.
“Her handles are top-notch,” Katona said. “She’s also really good with kids.”
The 5-foot-5 junior committed to Michigan Tech, but the Huskies coach that recruited her recently left for Wisconsin-Stout.
Hiller started with a bang as a freshman, averaging 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.4 assists a game, even on a team dominate by future Lake Superior State guard Lauren Wilder.
Those numbers swelled to 18.8 points, 5.5 assists, 6.2 steals and 4.8 rebounds per contest as a sophomore and then 22.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 5.2 steals a game as a junior.
She missed five games this season with an ankle injury, returning ahead of schedule after sustaining the severe sprain.
“Being a good leader is really hard,” Hiller said. “It comes with struggling with yourself as the team struggles.”
Lillian Chittle is tentatively set to return next season after not playing last year, something that cost the Rangers a great secondary scorer — she averaged 15.2 points a game in 2024-25 — and allowed teams to concentrate their defenses much more on Hiller.
Still, Hiller was a one-person press-breaker, even though she’d often see double teams once Manton settled into its half-court set.
Tisron has to coach against Hiller and the Rangers twice a season in Highland Conference play.
“Aubrey is an extremely intelligent basketball player she does a great job getting to her spots and can score in so many ways,” Tisron said. “She’s a great scorer, but has incredible court vision and gets her teammates the ball in spots to score. And as good as her offense is, her on-ball defense makes it very hard to get into an anything offensively.”
Tisron said he’s glad he only has to coach against her one more year.
She’s not playing softball this spring; that was a one-time thing last year as part of a pact with good friend Adriana Sackett in order to get Sackett to play basketball.
“Aubrey is a coach’s dream,” Katona said. “She always puts in the time. You don’t get it 12 months a year very often. She’s in the gym every day.”
If she stays healthy and the Rangers can make a long playoff run next season, Hiller has an outside shot at scoring 2,000 points. She’s at 1,277 after three seasons on varsity. She’d have to play virtually every game and average over 25 points a game on the way to a regional title and maybe more.
The oldest of four siblings, her father, Ryan, is one of Manton’s top all-time leading scorers on the boys side and later wen ton to play at Oakland University. Her mother, Kaylie, graduated from McBain and played basketball at Grand Rapids Community College.
In addition to her handles, Hiller plays great defense, sees floor and distributes well and possesses a lethal floater.
“She has such a supportive family,” Katona said. “Ryan has to be the most intense basketball mind around, as far as wanting to get better.”
LARGE SCHOOL DREAM TEAM
Grace Bohrer, F, TC West, Sr.
Lorelai Zielinski, C, TC Central, Jr.
Izzy Brown, G, Cadillac, So.
Elaina Flynn, G, Petoskey, Fr.
Ella Sulitis, F, Petoskey, Fr.
Coach of the Year: Brooke Carlson, Petoskey
Defensive Player of the Year: Emilee Robinson, F, Kingsley, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Sienna Slack, G, TC Central
SMALL SCHOOL DREAM TEAM
Aubrey Hiller, G, Manton, Jr.
Payton Glasby, F, Gaylord St. Mary, Sr.
Lydia Fosmore, G/F, Glen Lake, Jr.
Peyton Grant, F, McBain, Sr.
Kaylee Jeffers, G, Gaylord St. Mary, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Dan Mesyar, Onekama
Defensive Player of the Year: Addie Jarosz, Frankfort
Freshman of the Year: Allie Schlicker, C, Elk Rapids
FIRST TEAM
Riley LaVack, G/F, Frankfort, So.
Ari Bryant, G, Cadillac, Sr.
Addy Burns, G, Boyne City, Jr.
Hailey Hart, G, Onekama, Sr.
Alayna Edmondson, G, Manistee, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Lyla Janes, G, Petoskey, So.
Ava Mauntler, G, Onekama, Jr.
Madisyn Putney, G, Mesick, So.
Kylee Eising, F, TC St. Francis, So.
Adrienne Schaub, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, Jr.
THIRD TEAM
Kara Brayton, F, TC Bulldogs, Jr.
Regan Leiffers, F, Bear Lake, Sr.
Lucy Moyer, F/C, Buckley, Jr.
Mackenzie Schaub, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, Sr.
Aizlyn McKinley, G, Kingsley, Jr.
FOURTH TEAM
Brooklyn Fischer, F, Bellaire, Jr.
Rhielynn Skrocki, G, Elk Rapids, Sr.
Natalie Brown, F, Bear Lake, Sr.
Hailey Nickerson, G, TC West, Sr.
Emery Lawes, G, Johannesburg-Lewiston, So.
FIFTH TEAM
Leah Sulitis, C, Petoskey, Sr.
Taylor Belongia, F, Mancelona, Jr.
Annie Strang, G, Kingsley, Sr.
Delanie Dembowske, F, Glen Lake, So.
Ashlyn Hoitenga, F, McBain, So.
SIXTH TEAM
Avamae Fett, C, Manistee, Sr.
Callie Sinke, G, Onekama, So.
Lily Crane, F, Johannesburg-Lewiston, Jr.
Mikayla Kulawiak, G/F, Buckley, Jr.
Harper Nausadis, F, TC St. Francis, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
LilyAnne Artman, C, Bear Lake, Sr.; Bella Barnes, C, Manton, Fr.; Makayla Beach, C, Harbor Springs, So.; Makenna Brey, G/F, Harbor Springs, So.; Grace Denike, C, Kalkaska, Jr.; Payton Derrer, G, Mancelona, Jr.; Kerri DeYoung, C, Ellsworth, Sr.; Emma Dow, F, Alba, Jr.; Hannah Essenberg, G, Ellsworth, Sr.; Lindsey Gardner, F, Manistee, Sr.; Makayla Hall, G, Lake City, Sr.; Myla Hibbard, G, Central Lake, So.; Emily Kelsey, G, TC West, Sr.; Ayla Kemp, G, Charlevoix, Jr.; JoJo Kirkpatrick, F, East Jordan, Jr.; Kaelyn Matelski, G, Boyne City, Sr.; Delaney McCarthy, F, Onekama, Jr.; Christie McCrumb, G/F, TC Central, Fr.; Addison McDonald, F, Gaylord, Sr.; Lillian McShannock, G, Harbor Springs, So.; Kayla Milarch, G/F, Buckley, Sr.; Abby Miller, F, Central Lake, So.; Molly Montgomery, F, Grayling, Jr.; Natalie Myers, G, Brethren, Sr.; Ruby Pletcher, G, Ellsworth, Jr.; Karlee Pretzlaff, G, Gaylord, Sr.; Stefi Reskevics, G, Harbor Springs, Jr.; Amaya Roper, Benzie Central, Sr.; Willa Roth, G, Frankfort, Sr.; Adria Rozeveld, F, McBain, Jr.; Gabi Schepers, G, Cadillac, So.; Brooklyn Stevens, G, Bellaire, Jr.; Makenna Vandock, F, Harbor Light, Fr.; Lorna Wiesen, G, Leland, Sr.; Kapri Wilson, F, TC West, Sr.