Things like this make me feel old.

Well, I am old. There are far too many gray hairs in my beard than I’d care to admit and I am using words like rheumatism in daily conversation far too often.

Then I gaze at the girls basketball leaders in Butler County, and I really feel old.

LeeAnn Gibson leads the area in scoring.

She’s a sophomore at Karns City.

Butler’s Julia Baxter is second on that list.

She’s a junior.

Three of the next four: Stephanie McCall of Moniteau, Zoe Soilis of Freeport and Marissa Siebka of Slippery Rock? Junior. Sophomore. Sophomore.

This just may be the golden age for young female hoop players in this area.

Slippery Rock’s Nicole Papley is the only senior in the top five in scoring. Mars’ Ali Goetz is the only other senior in the top 10.

Youth is definitely being served and the youth is serving up some good basketball.

Gibson played well last season as a freshman, but she’s been downright dominant this season for the Gremlins. Tall and athletic, she is relentless going to the basket.

Baxter also has flourished. Twice this season she had 20 or more points and 20 or more rebounds.

McCall is similar to Gibson and Baxter in the way she attacks the basket. She has been one of the reasons why the Warriors are poised to make a playoff push.

Then there is Soilis and Siebka, the two guards on this list.

Soilis blossomed toward the end of last season when an injury put senior Jessica Aulicino on the shelf for several games.

This season, Soilis has played like anything but a sophomore.

Siebka also saw significant playing time as a freshman at Slippery Rock last season.

Always quick on defense — she led the team in steals last season — she’s picking pockets still, but has more than doubled her scoring average.

Ah, to be young again.

It’s striking how much Butler junior guard Alyssa DiPippa has improved from last season.

A part-time point guard last year, DiPippa is running the show this season. She is arguably the most valuable player in the county. The Golden Tornado are a different team with her on the bench, which isn’t very often.

At Karns City, everyone is an underclassman, save for the lone senior, Emily Shumacher.

Another Emily, Emily LoPresti, has come up big in big games like she did against Moniteau Friday. LoPresti is a junior.

Freeport junior Macy Smolic, Grove City junior Jordyn Wyllie, and Mars junior Sara Getsy have also been standouts this season.

The scary thing is all of these players will be back next season.

Just think how much better they are going to be.

Yes, I may feel old, but the youth of Butler County is making things fun.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.