LITTLE MIAMI PANTHERS ATHLETICS

Denise Sebastianelli (Thornton) was a dominant force for the Little Miami Lady Panthers varsity basketball team during their championship runs in the mid-1980s. A cornerstone of the program, she helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back FAVC titles and their first-ever district championship, solidifying their reputation across Warren County and Southwest Ohio.
 
Denise’s impact was both team-oriented and individual. Upon graduation, she held school records for rebounds in both a single season and across her career. She also posted the highest field goal percentages in both categories, showcasing her offensive efficiency. Additionally, she logged 696 points during her career, which ranked No. 3 in the program at the time.
 
Her tenure at LMHS coincided with a historic stretch for the program, which included the most wins and consecutive victories in school history at the time. The team’s success was fueled by a powerful offense and relentless drive, with Denise playing a central role.
 
Individually, she was a three-time All-FAVC selection—earning honorable mention as a sophomore, second-team honors as a junior, and first-team as a senior. Beyond the conference, she earned three All-Area selections from The Western Star, which also named her Player of the Year once. Denise was also a two-time First-Team All-District 15 honoree and received Honorable Mention All-State recognition.

Additionally, Denise earned four varsity letters in track & field and was a two-time first-team All-FAVC recipient in the high jump while setting a school record mark at 5-3. And during the fall season, Denise played soccer for the Lady Panthers earning team MVP honors and was twice named first-team All-FAVC. 

Soccer – 3 years
Basketball – 4 years
Track & Field – 4 years

• Her legacy remains a benchmark of excellence in Little Miami Lady Panthers basketball history.
• Scored 696 points during her high school career, ranking No. 3 in program history at the time.
• Three-time All-FAVC recipient in basketball; two-time first-team All-FAVC in track (1984 and 85); and two-time first-team All-FAVC in soccer (1983 and 84). 
• Two-time All-District 15 recipient and honorable mention All-State.
• Co-captain of the back-to-back FAVC championship teams.
• Leader of the Lady Panthers first-ever District Championship team.