|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Region Roundball Review
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Friday, February 27 |
Lone
local tournament survivor Valparaiso will be taking on 4A No. 2 Warsaw
on the Tigers' home court tomorrow. A big challenge, indeed, but no one is
counting out the feisty Vikings or head coach Greg
Kirby. Kirby (right), who has compiled one of the most successful
careers in girls basketball in Indiana, would like to get back to the state finals after an
appearance there in 2000. After all, it's tradition. With last week's Regional finals
win, the Vikings program became the state leader in Regional Championships won
(11) in Indiana girls basketball history. If they win on Saturday, they will have won
more Semi-State Championships (6) than any other team in girls basketball
history.
Beating
the Tigers will be no small feat with Miss Basketball frontrunner
Jaclyn Leininger on the Warsaw roster. The
Vikings match up just about everywhere on the court with the Tigers, except with
the state's sixth leading scorer (25.6 ppg) on the wing. The Vikings' defense is
ranked first in the state (32.36) while Warsaw ranks 12th (62.85) in scoring
offense. Controlling the tempo of the game will be object of both teams. Valpo
will only be able to control the tempo to their liking if they can stop
Leininger, and that task will most likely fall to athletic 5'11 sophomore wing
Erica Humes (left). If she can slow down the
much-more experienced senior, and if Valparaiso can control the paint, the Vikings will have a chance to advance to the
state tournament for the sixth time in program history. Photos courtesy of
strempkagallery.com.
More:
Valpo-Warsaw: mirror image - Post-Tribune
Valpo girls reach Final Four
- The Times
Hutton: No flash, just results
- The Times
'The Renegade' predicts tough time for Valpo Girls - usa-365.com
Both the 3A and 4A games from the Warsaw Semi-State will be broadcast over the Internet tomorrow. RRSN will carry the both games live beginning at 11:30 a.m. (CST). HSSP will carry delayed broadcasts of both games beginning at 7:00 p.m. (CST).
Katy Stephenson brandishes her new school colors at
her signing with IUSB head
coach Mary Wisniewski (back row, right). They are
joined by (back row, L-R) Jeff Small
(Madison-Grant girls head coach), Steve
Burkhart (Indiana Warriors AAU coach),
Steve Berry (Indiana Warriors AAU coach),
(front row) Scott Boucher
(stepfather) and Teresa Boucher (mother).
Madison-Grant senior Katy Stephenson
(above) has signed with NAIA Division I Indiana University-South Bend. The 5'7
guard averaged 13.2 points per game this season, while shooting 44.1% from the
field, 34.0% from three-point and 87.3% from the line. The four year varsity
member was the 2002 Madison-Grant team MVP and the 2003 Offensive Player of the
Year. She was a member of the CIC All-Conference and Chronicle-Tribune
All-County teams in both 2002 and 2003 and selected as a Hoosier Basketball
Magazine All-State Honorable Mention in 2003. She was named to the 2001-2003
All-CIC Academic Teams, 2001-2003 Sports Hotline Brain Squads and is an officer
in the Madison-Grant National Honor Society. More:
Argyll to play at IUSB - Chronicle-Tribune
Six girls basketball coaches have been honored by the
Indiana
Basketball Coaches Association. Winners of the Bob King Coaches of the
Year Award are:
District I
Dan Feagler, Garrett
Gary Teel, Tippecanoe Valley
District II
Allen Cooper, New Palestine
Todd Salkoski, Shenandoah
District III
Michael Uhl, Corydon Central
Rick Marshall, North Knox
Triton head coach Mark Heeter has
resigned after a very successful run with the girls basketball program there. Heeter,
who won two state championships in 2000 and 2001, compiled an outstanding 208-98
record during his 14 years as the head coach of the Trojans. According to the
South Bend Tribune, Heeter is resigning
to devote more time to his basketball-playing daughters, Alli and Kaci.
Fountain Central
head coach Phil Rash has resigned his
position with the Mustangs. Rash, who will continue on as FC athletic and
activities director, compiled a 133-85 record during his 10-year tenure.
According to the
Lafayette Journal & Courier, Rash was the ICGSA District III Coach
of the Year in 2001.
Vincennes Lincoln head coach Janis Hert
has submitted her resignation, according to the
Vincennes Sun-Commercial. During her 10-year stint with the Alices,
Hert compiled a 112-93 record and won two Big Eight Conference championships
over the past three years. Hert, who cited the need to "seek other interests at
this time," will continue on as a math teacher at Lincoln and may offer
assistance to the girls basketball program next season.
According to the
Bedford Times-Mail, Bedford North Lawrence head coach
Frank Decker will not have his coaching
contract renewed after the end of this school year. Considered one of the
hardest-working and devoted coaches in BNL history, a disappointing 6-14 record
this season, and 40-45 record over the past four years, was most likely the
reason for the non-renewal. BNL won a state championship in 1991, but has not
won a sectional during the tenure of it's last four coaches.
Many
Region fans will remember former Highland post player
Lindsey Chappell (right) as a role player on
a successful team in high school. What many may not know is that Chappell has
been tearing up at the college level for the past four years at Division III
Earlham
College. According to the
Richmond Palladium-Item, Chappell has been a feared opponent in the
North Coast Athletic Conference, where she was the NCAC Newcomer of the Year in
2001 and First Team All-NCAC in 2002 and 2003. This season in the NCAC, she
ranks 6th in scoring (13.4), third in rebounding (8.8), first in offensive
rebounds (3.84) first in field goal percentage (.600) and eighth in blocked
shots (0.8). Chappell's career ended with a loss to Denison on Tuesday.
In her final game, Chappell scored 19 points and hauled down six rebounds in the
three-point HCAC Tournament loss. Chappell will leave Earlham as the Quakers'
all-time career rebounder and No. 3 on the career scoring list. Photo from
the Richmond Palladium-Item.
Junior All-Star candidate Trisha Bennett broke her non-shooting arm at an AAU practice on Sunday. The 5'6 guard, who averaged 16.0 points and 4.5 assists this season for New Albany, had surgery to repair the arm and is expected to make a full recovery, hopefully by June, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
According to the South Bend Tribune, the South Bend St. Joseph's girls basketball program has been placed on probation for giving a signed basketball to the widow of man who served as the AAU coach for several girls on the team. The probation status will not affect the team's participation in the 3A Semi-State this Saturday.
Semi-State Previews:
High goals remain for Rochester, Warsaw - South Bend Tribune
St. Joseph's set to clash with Luers - South Bend Tribune
St. Clair not underrated - South Bend Tribune
Pointing the bus toward Indy - South Bend Tribune
Coaching in bloodline for Canterbury's Kreiger - Journal Gazette
Garrett finally finds its way to semistate - Journal Gazette
Canterbury girls squad succeeding with talent, leadership - News Sentinel
Cardinals stand in way of Spartans’ trip to State Finals - Shelbyville News
Hammond on the sideline — as coach - Shelbyville News
Devoted to his faith, Titus leads - Shelbyville News
Pioneer girls hope this time is different against North Central -
Mooresville Times
State crown
remains a goal for Southwestern - Indy Star
It wouldn't be
a tournament without a certain debate - Indy Star
Eagles facing
a tough game - Indy Star
Panthers get
2-for-1 deal at center - Indy Star
Valuable,
versatile sub plays with inspiration - Indy Star
Focus helps
move Eagles along to the Southridge Semistate - Indy Star
Mooresville
girls prove they belong with state's elite - Indy Star
Southridge Semistate loaded with talented teams -
Courier & Press
Lady Warriors, Heritage Christian to battle - Sun-Commercial
Girls basketball notes & features:
Great Bremen season comes to close, future looks bright - Pilot News
Family ties work on, off the court for Heritage Christian - Indy Star
North Central shooter has given Panthers a spark - Indy Star
Tough
schedules help girls squads - Indy Star
'No regrets'
motto guides Heritage Christian - Indy Star
Southwestern
Rebels are ready to play anyone - Indy Star
Mooresville
enters regional with confidence level high - Indy Star
Saints rely on
unselfish play - Indy Star
Young Shelbyville coach relates to veteran team - Shelbyville News
Senior makes
Academic All-Star team - Indy Star
Lady Giants'
run comes to abrupt end - Flyer Group
Like father, like daughter - Indy Star
Rebels enjoy record-breaking season - Pal-Item
College and other articles of interest:
Hub's Zondor propels DePauw -
Post-Tribune
Wells leads S. Indiana past Pumas
- The Times
Hoosier
Hysteria gone with class basketball - Indy Star
Purdue Cal
takes one from IU South Bend - The Times
Cold start dooms VU
- The Times
Purdue seniors have been successful, but they want more - Indianapolis Star
Secrest gets 17 in four OT win - Linton Daily Citizen
Home game on the line for Cardinals - Ball State Daily News
Miami, Merrill clinch outright MAC title with 75-65 win - Miami website
Loss drops Rose-Hulman into second in conference - Tribune Star
Sycamore women let big one get away - Tribune Star
Ancilla women win tourney opener - Pilot News
Indiana Tech wins on shot at the buzzer - News-Sentinel
Purdue's focus narrows to Penn State - News-Sentinel
Irish women roll past No. 21 Miami at home - News-Sentinel
Reflective moments (Indiana Wesleyan) - Chronicle-Tribune
Wildcats survive first-round scare (Indiana Wesleyan) - Chronicle Tribune
Taylor women beat Bethel - Chronicle Tribune
Anderson women advance in HCAC tourney - Herald Bulletin
| Friday, February 20 |
With the end of the season in sight, coaching changes are being made public:
South Bend Riley head coach Mike Megyesi
(right)
has resigned, according to the
South Bend Tribune. Citing lack of time with his wife, and also some
things that "have gotten out of hand that have made it frustrating to coach" as
his reasons for resigning, Megyesi will continue to coach girls golf and boys
track, while remaining chair of the social studies department at Riley. During
his eight-year tenure at Riley, Megyesi, brother of Lake Central head
coach Tom Megyesi, compiled a 121-61 record,
which included a 4A state runner-up finish in 2002.
New Albany
head coach Dave Rarick (left) has resigned
his head coaching position, citing a lack of time. As laid out in the
Louisville Courier-Journal, along with coaching duties, Rarick is
also the assistant transportation director and director of communications for
New Albany-Floyd County Schools. With the new IHSAA allowances for summer
practice, Rarick also felt the time commitment was too great in order for him to
reach his administrative career goals. During his three-year stint at New
Albany, Rarick compiled a successful 48-17 record, including a sectional title
in 2002. Photo from the Courier-Journal.
According to the
Indianapolis Star, Carmel head coach
Jennifer Marlow has resigned for personal reasons. Marlow, who was
hired three years ago to take over the Greyhounds program after serving as a
varsity assistant at Carmel, compiled a 34-33
record during her tenure.
Hoosier
Basketball Magazine has released its
2004 Girls Top 100 Senior List. By the beginning of March, this list
will be pared down to 40+ players, who will be invited to the annual Top 40
workout on Sunday, March 14, at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis. Making
the Top 100 List locally were the following NWI senior standouts:
Kiki Bytnar, Calumet (right)
Cat Campbell, Chesterton
Karima Davies, Gary West Side
Julie DeMuth, Merrillville
Belinda Drake, Gary West Side
Lauren Hutton, Valparaiso
Marshay Jolly, Merrillville
Becca Papach, Whiting
Jennifer VanderZanden, Lake Central
Photo from the Post-Tribune
More coverage:
Rains, Fougerousse listed among top 100 seniors - Linton Daily Citizen
AC's Natalie Young on top 100 girls list - Decatur Daily Democrat
The
ICGSA has released its
2003-04 Girls Basketball Academic All-State Teams. Locally, the
following senior players were named ICGSA Academic All-State or Honorable
Mention:
|
|
All-State |
Photo by strempkagallery.com
HSSP Internet Radio
will be webcasting the Class 3A Twin Lakes Regional on Saturday, February 21,
beginning at 8:30 a.m. (CST). The first game will feature Gary Wallace v.
West Lafayette, followed by Calumet v. South Bend St. Joseph's.
Championship game coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. (CST). Game broadcasts will be
archived as well for up to a month and can be found on the HSSP website.
Regional Radio Sports Network
will be webcasting the Class 4A Valparaiso Regional Semi-Finals beginning at
9:30 a.m. (CST). The first game will feature Gary West Side v. South Bend
Washington and be followed by Elkhart Memorial v. Valparaiso at approximately
11:30 a.m. (CST). If either West Side and/or Valparaiso play in the regional
final, RRSN will begin broadcast of that game beginning at 7:30 p.m. (CST).
We've changed our RRR Mini-Poll on the home page with voting on what factors would most influence your vote for Miss Basketball or the Indiana All-Stars... if you could vote, that is!
Regionals previews & news:
Centering in on Wallace's Houston
- The Times
Wheeler freshman something special
- The Times
Valpo's Gustke to the rescue
- The Times
West Side's sweet dreams - The Times
Hungry for title, ready for win -
Post-Tribune
Doctors, trainers are
go-to players as prep season winds down - Post Tribune
Area teams ready to make their mark - South Bend Tribune
Indians on warpath to Indianapolis - South Bend Tribune
Local teams in semistate hunt - South Bend Tribune
Back
to Peru for NorthWood's 'Black Swish' - Goshen News
Garrett takes aim at regional - KPC News
Regional another challenge for Shenandoah - Herald Bulletin
Shenandoah's Keesling is engine for Raiders - Herald Bulletin
IHSAA to use 3 refs starting with girls regionals - Indianapolis Star
Arabians continue upward trend - Indianapolis Star
It has finally all come together for Cambridge City Lincoln - Pal-Item
Rushville
Lions ready to go Dragon hunting, again - Rushville Republican
Braves are surprise champs - Warrick Publishing
Promise upheld: Knights win sectional title - Warrick Publishing
Randolph Southern goes to regional with plans of a championship - Winchester
Gazette
Burrell's words, actions inspire Red Devils - Lafayette J & C
Falcons'
veteran point guard fills her role as team leader - Indianapolis Star
First regional
title becomes Southwestern's newest objective - Indianapolis Star
South Putnam
prepared for regional showdown - Banner Graphic
North Montgomery sets goal high for regional - Journal Review
Seniors lead North Montgomery to regionals - Journal Review
Girls
team relish week preparing for regional - TH Tribune Star
Mooresville headed to regionals - Mooresville Times
As senior takes charge, Pioneers move forward - Indy Star
Versatility
will be crucial for Pike - Indy Star
Jeff wants focus to be on the future - Courier-Journal
North Knox favorite at regional - Sun-Commercial
Southwestern rewarded with regional date - Shelbyville News
Young coach relates to veteran team - Shelbyville News
Lady Hatchets get ready for Corydon - Washington Times Herald
Girls basketball notes & features:
Valpo, Wheeler lone tournament survivors
- The Times
Lake Central season over for
seniors, team efforts will go on - Post-Tribune
Good to last shot and drop - The Times
Valpo's Humes all dressed up, nowhere to go - The Times
South Newton senior Brinkman plays hero in sectional final - Rensselaer
Republican
Washington experiences deja vu - SB Tribune
Five area girls are poised to shine as white-hot leaders on the court - FW
News-Gazette
Extended power polls - FW News-Gazette
Arabians
continue upward trend - Indy Star
Miss Basketball bid gets even better for Leininger - Journal Gazette
Cat Campbell signs with Wesleyan - Chesterton Tribune
Prep Notes - Ft. Wayne News Sentinel
Girls Basketball Sectional Notes - Ft. Wayne News Sentinel
Miller grabs NIC Player of Year honors - South Bend Tribune
BNL’s band of sisters
- Bedford Times-Mail
Area hoopsters among state leaders - Martinsville Reporter-Times
County teams
take look ahead - Indy Star
Sheridan
Blackhawks face bumps on road to respectability - Indy Star
Switz Co. senior Meyer voted MVP of girls ORVC - Madison Courier
College and other articles of interest:
Broken nose won’t
keep VU’s Boone from playing - Post-Tribune
Valpo uses brains and Braun - The Times
Depth has carried Crusaders recently - The Times
Cardinals hit the road, try to come back from losses - Ball State Daily News
Earlham women lose 66-49 on Senior Night - Pal-Item
BSU senior hopes to break 100 boards - Ball State Daily News
BSU scrimmage of the sexes - Ball State Daily News
BSU faces Eastern Michigan in rematch - Ball State Daily News
Frontier's tourney hospitality second to none - Lafayette J&C
Miami's Cindi Merrill tallies third MAC Player of the Week Honor - Miami
website
Opposing mediocrity has been tough for ND - South Bend Tribune
Tri-State U
welcomes tourney shot
- KPC News
Franklin
College win secures share of title
- JC Daily Journal
| Friday, February 13 |
The second round of sectional action gets underway tonight on Lucky Friday the 13th, and there are some very competitive games taking place all around the state.
In 4A, No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern will face No. 5 North Central
with super soph Amber Harris, who committed
to Purdue earlier this week. Harris may be the key to this game if the
Panthers can keep pounding it down low all night. HSE has no answer in the post
for the athletic Harris who could play just about any position on the court. But
junior Lindsey Kluempers and seniors
Kelly Snider and Bethany Odom will
give it their best to keep Harris in check. The Royals will counter on the
perimeter with junior Kahla Roudebush (14.0
ppg) and 3-point sharp shooting sophomores Kylie York
(.500 3pt) and Beth Marshall (.462 3pt).
North Central came out on top by two points in overtime last time these two
teams met. This should be a barn burner!
Locally
in 4A, No. 12 Valparaiso, who downed No. 10 Merrillville -- a team
of post-season promise that struggled from the field and the charity stripe in
first-round play -- will face an unranked team that pulled off the biggest upset
of the sectional field just two weeks ago. Crown Point, featuring
top-notch guard junior Cassie Pruzin
(right), put the Vikes away by five points to knock Valpo out of DAC
championship status January 30. In that game, Pruzin notched a career-high 28
points, 24 in the second half, to propel the Bulldogs in the win. If Pruzin lets
loose again, can the Vikings backcourt find a way to stop her? In the past,
Valpo defensive ace and Energizer Bunny Lauren Hutton
was able to keep Pruzin in check; but now that Pruzin knows she can score at
will on the Valpo man-to-man defense, will coach Greg
Kirby have special defensive plans for Crown Point's biggest scoring
threat? We shall find out tonight in what should be one of the best games in the
Region tonight. This game, as well as the Portage v. Hobart game,
will be carried live over the Internet by RRSN. (See below.) More 4A previews:
HSE-North
Central semifinal should be game for superlatives - Indy Star
Preparation has made the difference (Hamilton SE) - Indy Star
Mooresville looks to avenge loss to Martinsville - Mooresville Times
Center Grove, Franklin forget about the past - Indy Star
Ben Davis girls team wants to win 1 for the senior - Indy Star
Bronchos must keep cool against state champions - Journal &
Courier
Lady Giants
prepare for postseason run - Flyer Group
Photo by strempkagallery.com
In 3A, No. 5 North Harrison will face No. 12 Scottsburg. The
Cougars were able to bypass the Warriorettes very early in the season with a
5-point win, but pesky Scottsburg could upset the hopes of the North Harrison to
advance to the finals.
In what could be the most competitive 3A battle tonight, No. 8 Mt. Vernon
(Fortville) and No. 8 Pendleton Heights (both tied in the ICGSA Poll)
will duke it out in Sectional 27 at Pendleton Heights. The last time these two
met, it was no contest when the Marauders downed the Arabians in a 14-point win.
But that was on Mt. Vernon's home court. The tables will be turned with Heights
having the home court advantage this time. The Arabians are riding a 13-win wave
since a 5-point loss to 4A No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern in early December.
Mt. Vernon lost to HSE by 22 just two weeks ago. The Marauders are led by 5'9
senior guard Jessie Privett (14.4 ppg),
while the Arabians are led by 6'1 sophomore forward
Susan Lester (19.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg).
Locally in 3A, Lew Wallace will be making a bid for a chance at it's
first sectional title in nine years when it takes on Andrean in
semi-final action tonight in Sectional 18 at Kankakee Valley. Things look
promising for the 10-5 Hornets as Andrean (7-13) has lost five of its last seven
games. The Hornets will not be overlooking anyone however, as the 59ers will
count on Division I recruit Kim McCloskey
(5'10 G/F) who is headed to Monmouth next fall. Lew Wallace will rely on
premier 6'3 sophomore forward Sharon Houston,
who has been racking up the points (23.4), rebounds (12.3) and blocks (5.1) all
season for the Hornets. More 3A coverage:
Competitive final four set at North Harrison - Courier-Journal
Arabians win to set up rematch - Herald Bulletin
Hornets
prepared to open defense of Class 3A state title - Indy Star
Boonville girls' patience will be tested by Memorial -
Courier & Press
In 2A, a battle royale will be taking place in Sectional 43 at Speedway when No.
5 Heritage Christian (16-5) will face No. 9 Indian Creek
(18-3). There is much history between these two schools in just two short years.
Last season, Heritage Christian (then No. 1) knocked of the
Braves
(then No. 3) in sectional semi-final action almost a year ago to the day.
Heritage Christian went on to lose to a stacked North Putnam team in the
regional semi-finals. This time around, the Braves will be looking for
redemption behind the leadership of the state's leading scorer, senior Penn
State signee Adrienne Squire (30.5 ppg,
4.0 spg) and 6'1 junior center Kris Coner
(14.5 ppg, 10.1 rpg). Heritage Christian will pin their hopes on 5'10 senior
forward Butler signee Cassie Freeman
(right) (20.4 ppg) and 5'11 senior center Bethel recruit
Hannah Richards (14.4 ppg). More 2A
coverage:
Luck of draw not lucky for all - Indy Star
Playing as a team (Indian Creek) - JC Daily Journal
Monrovia girls close season with loss, look toward sectionals - Mooresville Times
Finally, in 1A, No. 5 Southern Wells will face No. 6 Tri-Central tonight after both teams made it past first-round sectional action. Southern Wells (15-6) and Tri-Central (16-3) do not play each other during the regular season and had only two common opponents on their schedules. Both teams easily handled Lakeview Christian by more than 30 points each. Most recently, Tri-Central defeated Wes-Del in first round sectional action by a score of 59-48, while the Raiders closed out their regular season against Wes-Del with a 71-38 drubbing. The Trojans could have the edge with home court advantage. However, with a slot in the championship round at stake, you can bet that both of these teams will be bringing their A game to Sharpsville.
According to the Post-Tribune, Gary West Side junior Michelle Hamblin will continue to watch her team's post-season efforts from the sideline. The 5'11 guard/forward tore her ACL in late December and is still struggling with the bad news. Picking up the slack in the absence of the Cougars' best shooting percentage player have been juniors Ashley Cheairs (5'9 G) and Isabell Rhenwick (5'7G), together with emerging 5'11 sophomore forward Erica Simpson. The Cougars, who drew the fortunate first-round sectional bye, will face off against Lake Central tonight at home.
Regional
Radio Sports Network will be broadcasting the sectional games from
Crown Point Sectional 2 tonight beginning at 6:00 p.m. (CST) and tomorrow at
7:00 p.m. The broadcast will be simulcast over the Internet in
Windows Media format or
Real Player format. You can also
catch the WEFM Scoreboard Show tonight beginning at 10:30 p.m. (CST) in both
Windows Media format or
Real Player Format.
More Sectional Previews
Shooting for the top - FW News-Sentinel
MC Marquette Blazers hope for 'one more game' - News Dispatch
Tucker the key for Michigan City - News Dispatch
WL wary of Western's perimeter game - Lafayette Journal & Courier
Zebras, Warriors favored in girls sectional
- Pharos Tribune
Logan,
Cass have tough first-round games - Pharos Tribune
Northeastern Indiana teams to vie for sectional crowns - KPC News
Key early matchups for Squaws, Jets - Decatur Daily Democrat
Snider Panthers poised to pounce at sectional - FW News Sentinel
Huntington North tourney-ready - Huntington Press
It’s do-or-die time for area girls hoops teams - Peru Tribune
Central,
Southside girls to meet in first round - Muncie Star Press
Area teams gear up for girls sectional - Richmond Pal-Item
Western Boone sectional preview - Journal Review
Southmont carries momentum into sectionals - Journal Review
Covington takes on North Vermillion - Journal Review
Brown County Eagles want sectional trophy back in Brown County - BC Democrat
February frenzy - Terre Haute Tribune Star
Girls
basketball sectionals at a glance - Indy Star
Red Devils vow
not to have repeat of 1st-round exit - Indy Star
NHS faces tough task with 4A No. 5 Panthers - Noblesville Ledger
County teams clash tonight in sectionals - Marion Chronicle Tribune
Prep basketball's second season starts today - Marion Chronicle Tribune
North Montgomery sectional preview - Journal Review
North Putnam sectional preview - Journal Review
Turkey Run sectional preview - Journal Review
Memorial girls to face Patriots - Evansville Courier &
Press
Seymour Owls look forward to sectional after being shot down by Stars -
Jackson County Banner
Jeff seniors focused on winning state title - Jeffersonville Evening News
Handicapping the girls' sectionals - Jeffersonville Evening News
Silver Creek must take on torrid Corydon - Courier-Journal
This week’s sectional will be first at Tell City in 35 years - Perry County
News
Wood Memorial girls ready for sectionals - Daily Clarion
Sectional time! Rivet, North Knox girls in action today - Sun-Commercial
Washington Hatchets are road ready - Times-Herald
Washington Catholic favored at North Daviess - Times-Herald
Six
area squads in action tonight - Herald Bulletin
Clinton Central, Frankfort Begin Sectional Play Tonight - Frankfort Times
Mustangs get favorable draw but not easy trip to sectional finals - Journal
Review
Natural rivals ready to duel - Courier & Press
Shamrock girls look to shed sectional underdog role against CHS - Noblesville Ledger
Girls basketball notes & features:
Valpo's Kirby wins No. 400 - The Times
Kreiger perseveres as one of greats - Post & Mail
South
Central senior is a quiet competitor - Herald-Argus
A five-alarm story in one-alarm town - Courier-Journal
Ben Davis'
Banks upholds family tradition (Miss Basketball preview) - Indy Star
Girls Basketball Standings/Leaders - South Bend Tribune
Lafayette Harrison quintet has accumulated 37 varsity letters - Journal &
Courier
South Central sharpshooter took to it early - Courier-Journal
Area High School Basketball Statistics - Vincennes Sun Commercial
Husbands do more at home during season - Indy Star
Top girls
prospects commit to Purdue - Indy Star
A generation of a game - Journal Review
High school
basketball odds and ends - Indy Star
Brebeuf lifts
play a notch to win opener - Indy Star
Shenandoah photo appears in Sports Illustrated - Star Press
Hoop fans have
their say - Indianapolis Star
Sectional is a family affair for Eminence Eels - Reporter-Times
Greencastle
wins conference - Banner Graphic
McCutcheon senior playing through pain - Lafayette Journal & Courier
Jeff's Houston makes up for lost time - Lafayette Journal & Courier
Offense overcomes for Northrop - FW News Sentinel
College and other articles of interest:
Thieman’s career-high 19 points lead Hanover women - Madison Courier
ISU's
Gray, Lisch earn MVC honors - Tribune Star
Upcoming home games vital to ISU women - Tribune Star
Ex-Noblesville girls basketball standout off to good college start - Indy Star
BSU Cards hope to stifle high-powered Western Michigan - Ball State Daily
News
BSU women lose key MAC game - Muncie Star Press
Cardinals lead in first half, fail to maintain
- Ball State Daily
News
Cardinals hit the road, try to come back from losses
- Ball State Daily
News
Indiana State women hit road to regroup against lowly SIU - Tribune Star
White signs deal with Fever - Indianapolis Star
White re-signs with Fever as she continues rehab - FW News Sentinel
| Monday, February 9 |
It
was a day of celebration at Purdue yesterday, in many more ways than one.
After a game against Ohio State was in doubt, but then won in the final
seconds of the game; after senior premier player
Shereka Wright scored her 2,000th point during the game; after it was
learned that Big Ten leader Penn State had lost to Minnesota,
putting the Boilermakers in a tie for first place; after all of this, Coach
Kristy Curry received the most pleasant
shock of her coaching career when 6'5 sophomore Amber
Harris (left) of North Central and 6'6 freshman
Ta'Shia Phillips of Brebeuf gave
their verbal commitments to Purdue. Following a trend that has taken over
Indiana girls basketball this season, Harris and Phillips, who are very close
and play for Kevin Merriweather's Family
organization, have committed very early in their high school careers.
Merriweather is the uncle of Phillips and also the father of Purdue assistant
coach Katrina Merriweather, making this a
Family
affair in more than one way. The two post players will be a force to be reckoned
with in the Big Ten in the future. Harris, a multi-position player who is
considered the No. 1 sophomore in the nation by All-Star Girls Report recruiting
service, is averaging 16.0 points (71.1 fg%), 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per
game. She also received much attention earlier this year for a dunk she executed
in a game against Chatard (video linked to photo at right). Phillips, a
traditional back-to-the-basket center, is averaging 13.1 points (61.2 fg%), 7.9
rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. More:
Boilers receive pair of early commitments - Boiler Station
Simple layup makes Wright member of 2,000-point club - Boiler Station
Valek's revival inspires Purdue past Ohio State - Boiler Station
Photo courtesy of
Old Gold
Free Press
Merrillville
sophomore Brittney Moore (left), also a
Purdue target, had a coming out block party against Crown Point
on Friday. The 6'2 center, who does not usually put up big scoring numbers
in the Pirates low-scoring offense, exploded for 17 points, 12 rebounds and 7
blocked shots against the Bulldogs' penetrating guards for the 46-37 win. In
this all-important final Duneland Conference outing, Moore refused to let her
team lose against the team that put away Valparaiso a week earlier in the
biggest DAC upset of the season. That Valpo loss set the stage for the Pirates
to win their first outright DAC title since 1988, and Moore elevated her team
to champion status with the victory. "We thought we should have
won it last year," Moore said of the DAC title in
The Times. "Winning the whole thing, and not sharing it with Valpo,
was the reason for my motivation." The Pirates will face an even bigger
challenge tomorrow when they face Valparaiso in first-round sectional action.
The post battle between Moore and highly-recruited Valpo center/forward
Cassie Kerns will be key in what is expected
to be a defensive battle between the state's
top two
defensive teams. Photo by strempkagallery.com.
Valparaiso
head coach Greg Kirby (right) notched his 400th
career prep victory Friday night with little fanfare. The long-time girls coach
was the head boys coach at Portage before he took the girls' lead position at
Valparaiso 14 years ago. A 37-33 win over DAC foe Chesterton brought Kirby to the 400
mark. After the game, assistant coach
Kathy Levandoski presented Kirby with the
game ball autographed by his players and coaches. The reliable inside-outside
tandem of junior Cassie Kerns (14 points, 8
rebounds, 5 blocks) and senior point guard Lauren
Hutton (10 points, 6 assists, 4 steals) led the way for the Vikes in
the career-setting win for Kirby. Valparaiso will face a tough Merrillville
squad on Tuesday night in the opening round of the Crown Point sectional.
Photo by
strempkagallery.com.
Mooresville varsity sisters Rachel Kenney and Lauren Kenney were both injured in an automobile accident on the way to school before the Pioneers' game against Southport last Tuesday. The car Rachel was driving hit a patch of ice and spun into the back of a propane truck. Both girls received non-life threatening injuries, but missed the game against Southport (a 56-60 loss) and another against Greenwood last Thursday. Rachel, an IUPUI signee, sustained a shoulder injury and Lauren received bruising from the seatbelt she was wearing at the time of the accident. The hope is that both girls, especially Rachel who is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, will be recovered for the Pioneers' sectional semi-final game against Martinsville on Friday evening. We're sure the girls' parents are thankful that neither was seriously injured.
Mooresville hoopsters injured in car wreck - Reporter-Times
Notre Dame received an early commitment from Georgia native Chandrica Smith, according to the South Bend Tribune. The Stephenson High School junior is not averaging big numbers (11.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 spg, 2.0 bpg), but is on a team with two other Division I prospects. This article outlines other top junior recruits Irish head coach Muffet McGraw is after, but none listed are from Indiana's talented class of 2005. Notre Dame currently only has one Indiana native, Jacqueline Batteast (South Bend Washington), on its active roster. Another Hoosier, Melissa Lechlitner of South Bend St. Joseph's has committed for the 2006 recruiting class. With available scholarships, ND can sign three to five players from the Class of 2005.
We've added a new RRR Mini-Poll on our home page relative to the location of this year's state champions in all classes. Do you think most of the title winners will be from the North, South or equally from the North and South?
Sectional previews:
'The Renegade' predicts Class 4A Sectional & Regional girls champions -
usa365.com
Tough schedule done; it's go-time for St. Joe - South Bend Tribune
Winamac, Rochester look for big rematch - South Bend Tribune
New Prairie's Harkleroad leads Cougars into postseason
- Herald-Argus
Carmel Hounds optimistic about sectional - Indy Star
Coaches look forward to girls hoops sectional - Terre Haute Tribune Star
Lofty Lutheran girls want to fly high in tournament - Reporter-Times
Semifinal showdown pits Washington, Clay - SB Tribune
Penn tabbed favorite in Goshen Sectional - SB Tribune
Area teams gear up for girls sectional - Richmond Pal-Item
Key early matchups for Squaws, Jets - Decatur Daily Democrat
Girls basketball notes & features:
Carroll coach Lisa McBride leading the charge -
News-Sentinel
Ft. Wayne extended power polls (boys & girls reversed) - News-Sentinel
Sports link
mom, Heritage Christian daughter - Indy Star
Coach knew 8
North Central seniors would be something special - Indy Star
College and other articles of interest:
3-point shot leaves its mark on game - Marion Chronicle Tribune
ISU battling for third place in MVC - Tribune Star
Tough Rhodes to trek (ISU) - Tribune Star
Crusaders roll to easy Mid-Con victory
- The Times
Ball State loses attendance record, but beats Northern Illinois - Star Press
Irish better on road - SB Tribune
Allegheny dominates Earlham women's team - Pal-Item
Vincennes women take 100 shots; drub Skyhawks - Sun-Commercial
| Saturday, February 7 |
Thursday
night, senior Jodi Hobbs (left) of North Knox
signed to play basketball at
St. Mary
of-the-Woods. Jodi, a 5'11 forward who plays both inside and out,
averages 7.8 points per game for the 20-1 2A No. 2 Warriors.
Says St. Mary-of-the-Woods assistant coach Aaron Ballenger,
"We are excited to have Jodi as a member of our basketball program. Not only is
she a good player on the court, but a great person off the court. Coach
Rick Marshall has done a wonderful job
preparing Jodi to play at the college level." More:
Hobbs to continue at Woods - Sun-Commercial
Churubusco senior Tara Dice has signed with head coach Gary Andrews of St. Francis in Ft. Wayne, according to the Columbia City Post & Mail. The 5'10 forward, who is the career scoring leader at Churubusco with 1,244 points, is averaging 21.3 points per game for the 10-9 Eagles and head coach Carter Jones. Dice chose St. Francis over IPFW and Marian.
Thursday
night, in her 93rd consecutive start, Shelbyville senior point guard
Gretchen Haehl set the Shelbyville career
scoring record with 1,375 points. Haehl went ahead to score 20 points in the win
over Eastern Hancock to end up with a total of 1,377. The old record was
set 23 years ago by Indiana All-Star Brenda (Kelsey)
Simmons (’81) who later played at Purdue. Brenda was in
attendance at the game and Gretchen was given the game ball after her
record-setting performance in a small ceremony. Along the way to the record,
Haehl surpassed scoring totals of other Shelbyville greats and Indiana All-stars
Shelly (Kaplinger) Cherry (‘86) of Penn
State and Misty Smith (’94) of
Louisville. Along with the point record, Gretchen also has the Shelbyville
career assist record with 382. Photo from the Shelbyville News. More:
Haehl breaks record,
Bears beat Royals -
Shelbyville News
Clarksville
senior and Butler recruit Candace Bain
(left) set the rebounding Clarksville career rebounding record Tuesday evening
with a seven rebound performance against Borden. Bain, who also holds the career
scoring record at Clarksville, needed three rebounds to break the 719 rebound
record held by 1987 grad Sarah White. Bain
surpassed White's record in the first quarter and went on to add four more in
the 48-38 win.
Generals' Bain sets new record in 48-38 win - Evening News
One day after she was
named Mid-Central Conference Player of the Week and the week after she set the
Grace career scoring record, senior Tracie
Mezera of River Forest suffered a knee injury in a game
against Huntington College. Mezera, who holds the
Grace career scoring record with 1,627 points, was carried off the floor with 11:19 left on the night she was being honored
for her career mark. The 5'7 guard scored 16 points
against Huntington before exiting. Mezera, who also set career statistical marks
at River Forest, has not played since the injury in late January.
Tracie Mezera's Injury Dampens Celebratory Game - Grace women's website
After
a bit of delay, the
big stud came to South Bend Monday night. Tennessee recruit
Candace Parker (right) and her Naperville
Central squad invaded the gym at
South Bend St. Joseph's
and came away with a 76-50 win. The 6'4 Parker was as good as advertised
and more with a stat line of 26 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks for the win.
Although the Indians could not keep up with Parker and her teammates, SBSJ
junior and Valparaiso recruit Aimee Litka
saved face for the Indians with 20 points and 8 assists. More:
St. Joe's girls no match for Parker - South Bend Tribune
Regional Radio Sports and WHLP 89.9FM will broadcast the entire Crown Point 4A Sectional 2 Tournament. The games will also be simulcast on the Internet. (Go to www.rrsn.com and click on the WHLP link.)
Former
Kokomo and Miami (Ohio) career standout Heather
Cusick (left in white) is averaging 17.7 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 4.4
assists for her pro team, BC-Shooters out of Spakenburg, Holland. She is also
shooting 85 percent from the free throw line, and has season highs of nine rebounds,
eight assists and six steals. BC-Shooters are currently tied for 3rd in the Dutch
Women's Premier Division.
Sectional previews:
Reversal of fortune for Lew Wallace?
- The Times
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 1 PREVIEW
- The Times
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 17 AT CALUMET
- The Times
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33 PREVIEW
- The Times
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 35 PREVIEW
- The Times
CLASS A SECTIONAL 49 PREVIEW
- The Times
CLASS A SECTIONAL 50 PREVIEW
- The Times
Eyes on the prize -
Post-Tribune
NHS girls to face Panther hoopsters in postseason - Noblesville Ledger
Ben Davis
girls face tough task - Indy Star
Unbeaten
Giants have more to prove - Indy Star
IHSAA announces girls basketball pairings - Monticello Herald-Journal
Girls
sectionals size up as competitive - Indy Star
Frankton gets a chance to avenge the past, again - Herald Bulletin
Girls sectionals set to fly - Plymouth Pilot News
Local
programs looking to take next step - Anderson Herald Bulletin
Girls basketball notes & features:
Girls Basketball NWI Top Ten
- The Times
'The Renegade' NWI Poll - usa365.com
Boone girls 7-0 in PCC - The Times
Record
reflects improvement - Indy Star
Turning up
level of intensity works at North Central - Indy Star
Support helps
Valek sisters excel in sports - Indy Star
South Bend area girls basketball leaders - SB Tribune
Year
after injury, Danville sophomore helps her team to wins - Indy Star
Lebanon
junior varsity finishes undefeated season - Lebanon Reporter
Lost season for Alexandria and its injured star player - News-Gazette
Jeffersonville guard passed on surgery to play - Courier-Journal
College and other articles of interest:
Boiler
women healing, learning with week off - Gold & Black Illustrated
Valpo drops second straight
- The Times
Ever-evolving IHSAA experiences scheduling trend - Chronicle-Tribune
Gooden's city-points title out of reach - Ft. Wayne News Sentinel
Rose-Hulman women lose at DePauw - Tribune Star
Doughty
steals one for DePauw - Banner Graphic
Unranked opponents trouble for ND - SB Tribune
BSU women
seek attendance record - Star Press
Hair apparent in ND win - South Bend Tribune
Indy to regularly host Final Fours - South Bend Tribune
Rested BSU team wants to stay strong - Ball State Daily News
Vincennes University Blazers lose rough-and-tumble affair - Sun-Commericial
| Tuesday, February 3 |
Chesterton
standout Catherine "Cat" Campbell (left) has
signed with
Indiana
Wesleyan in Marion. The 5'6 heady point guard and defensive specialist,
who is averaging 7.8 points and 5.1 assists per game this season, could receive
playing time early for the Wildcats as they will graduate three senior guards,
including
Stephanie Gill of Munster.
Campbell
is one reason the 13-6 Trojans are experiencing an admirable outing in the tough
Duneland Conference this season. They are currently tied for third place
(8-5) in the DAC with Crown Point, a team they have beaten twice during
conference play and will have to face a third time in the opening round of
sectional play next Tuesday. Cat is the last of four daughters who played for
dad and head coach Jack Campbell (pictured
at right with Cat, her mom and IWU head coach Steve
Brooks). Older sister Jackie Campbell,
a DAC MVP in 1999, played at Colorado State for four years. The IWU
women’s basketball program finished the 2001-2002 campaign 29-8, were
Co-Champions of the Mid-Central Conference and NCCAA National Champions. The
following year the Lady Wildcats were MCC regular season and tournament champs
and also reached the “Sweet 16” at the NAIA National Tournament. The IWU women’s
basketball team is currently 22-4 and ranked No. 14 in the NAIA. (Action
photo courtesy of
strempkagallery.com.)
The draw
for the IHSAA 29th Annual Girls Basketball Tournament took place on
Sunday, giving rise to much discussion of the impending first round of games
next week. You can view the draw at the IHSAA website in either
regular or
PDF
bracket formats.
Locally in Sectional 1, top teams Gary West Side and East Chicago
avoided a first-round matchup, setting the stage for a possible final between
the two. Both teams will not get there easily though, as East Chicago must face
a feisty Highland team, and Gary West Side, although receiving a
first-round bye, must get past a very capable Lake Central team that is
hitting its stride late in the season. In Sectional 2, favorites Merrillville
and Valparaiso will go at it in the early round, while Chesterton
and Crown Point will go head-to-head early as well. The winners on
Tuesday will duke it out on Friday, while either Portage or Hobart
will have to win just one to make it to the finals. Although the Pirates and the
Vikings are considered tournament favorites, the Bulldogs threw a wrench into
the works last Friday when they upended then 4A No. 6 Valparaiso behind a
28-point outburst (24 in the second half) from Junior All-Star candidate
Cassie Pruzin. Whichever of the four teams
playing on Tuesday makes it to the finals will be battle weary, giving Portage
or Hobart a possible upset bid.
In 3A Sectional 17, Calumet and Griffith are the favorites and
could meet on Friday if they get past their first-round opponents. In Sectional
18, favorites Gary Lew Wallace and Andrean both received the bye
but will face each other on Friday. Underdog Gary Mann, featuring
high-scoring junior Shanee Butler, will have
to win two games to get to the finals.
In 2A Sectional 33, Boone Grove pulled the toughest route to the finals,
having to get past a good Hammond Noll team, and then face PCC tournament
champion Hanover Central on Friday. If the Wolves, led by super point
guard Karissa Walter, can make it to the
finals, they will face 2A nemesis Wheeler, who downed the Wolves earlier
in the season by 13 points.
In 1A, Sectional 49 could be a toss-up, with Whiting, Washington
Township, Kouts and Hebron all having a shot at the title. The
draw favors a finals appearance for Whiting, led by high-scoring senior
Becca Papach. The Oilers have beaten both
their first round (LaCrosse) and possible second round opponent (River
Forest) during the regular season. The other three are left to battle it out
for a chance in the finals.
More tournament coverage:
East Chicago Central has a long road ahead - The Times
McCutcheon girls draw No. 8 Kokomo - Journal & Courier
Marion draws bye in girls' pairings - Chronicle-Tribune
Teams get a map to Indy - South Bend Tribune
Rivalry renewed: Leo, Bishop Luers meet again in sectionals - Journal
Gazette
Penn, Central get byes at Goshen Sectional - Elkhart Truth
Sleepers could take opponents by surprise - Indianapolis Star
Terre Haute North, South girls to face off in sectional play - Tribune Star
Girls draw good matches for sectional - Shelbyville News
Bedford NL Lady Stars receive bye in sectional - Times-Mail
IHSAA conducts girls' hoops sectional draw - Jeffersonville Evening News
Favored Jeffersonville girls get 1st-round bye, too - Courier-Journal
Corydon labeled the team to beat at North Harrison - Courier-Journal
Clarksville could challenge Brownstown, Charlestown - Courier-Journal
Lady Miners and Bulldogs draw sectional byes - Linton Daily Citizen
Squaws draw Cadets; Jets to meet Woodlan - Decatur Daily Democrat
Girls sectional draw sets up rematches - Richmond Pal-Item
Girls basketball postseason pairings out - Princeton Daily Clarion
In case you missed it on our home page, we have a poll predicting the team that will come out of the Valparaiso 4A Regional later this month. Currently, Gary West Side leads in voting with 29 of the 89 votes cast.
Before
her team's game with NorthWood last week, Miss Basketball candidate
Jaclyn Leininger (left) was presented the
game ball from the Hall of Fame Classic, where she became Warsaw's
all-time scoring leader. Presenting the ball was Tiger grad
Hilary O'Connell, who was the previous
holder of the record with a total of 1,135 career points. Leininger has
currently amassed 1,453 points. Warsaw's last regular season game will be on Thursday
against Elkhart Memorial.
Madison
senior Brittany Myers (right) set the school
career scoring record with a 30-point performance in a loss to Columbus North
last week. The 5'9 guard came into the contest needing 17 points to break the
1,480-point mark set by former Madison standout Molly
Holt in 1998. When Myers scored the passing career point at the
beginning of the fourth quarter, Holt came out of the stands to present Myers
the game ball and then the game continued. Myers went on to score 14 additional
points in the remainder of the fourth quarter to bring her career total to 1,494
points and counting. (Photo by Dave Campbell of the Madison Courier)
More:
Myers pours in 30 in losing effort to pass Holt as Cubs’ top scorer -
Madison Courier
Girls basketball notes & features:
Brebeuf's only sour note is in its singing style - Indianapolis Star
College and other articles of interest:
Ref's life is a lot of yells and whistles - Indianapolis Star
Cardinals show 'heart' in final three minutes - Ball State Daily News
Another test awaits Irish women's D - SB Tribune
Southern Indiana women rally on road - Courier & Press
VU left out in the cold - The Times
Severe's savvy inspires Irish - SB Tribune
ND takes to underdog role - SB Tribune
BSU women knock off pesky Central Michigan - Star Press
Franklin College women in tie for HCAC lead - JC Daily Journal
IU's women have had Buckeye's number lately - Times Mail
|
|
August
| September |
October |
November |
December
January | February | March | June | July
Go to
previous seasons archives
Back to Top
