Wow, as someone said on our message board yesterday, it sure is quiet around the RRR. Well, it's our job to stir things up, so we've put together 15 Burning Questions to get the season juices flowing. We hit on five questions each for basketball in the Region, State and college. And not to be outdone, you can put together your own burning questions on the RRR message board thread we've begun just for that purpose. Hope you enjoy our lengthy ramblings!

In case you missed the update on our home page over the weekend, 5'7 Rochester guard Courtney Felke has also committed to Evansville along with AAU teammate Rebekah Parker of Tippecanoe Valley, which we reported last week. Felke was an Indiana Junior All-Star this past summer and averaged 18.9 points, 7.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds in leading Rochester to a 22-3 record last season.  She also visited Indiana State, Central Michigan, Bowling Green and Butler before making her decision. More coverage:
Pair of all-stars commit to UE for basketball

Merrillville has had two more notable transfers since the end of last season besides former Highland senior Julie DeMuth. Sophomore guard Michelle Cannon from Gary Wirt and junior power forward Natasha Jennings from Lew Wallace will both be competing for a purple and white varsity position this season. Also, former Highland standout Amy Govert will be a varsity assistant for Pirate head coach Bob Maicher.

RRR charter member Brian Sullivan (a/k/a Sully) has been hired as an assistant coach at Division II Bellarmine in Louisville. Sully is looking forward to the new rigors of Division II coaching, which allows him to actually offer athletic scholarships after seven years at D-III Franklin College. His plans are to do some serious mining of the talent in Indiana. One Hoosier native is already on the Bellarmine roster. Redshirt junior Lynne Johnson of Corydon Central is a power forward for the Knights and was the team's leading scorer at 17.4 points per game as a sophomore. She is expected to take on a leadership role this season in a starting lineup that includes four former Kentucky All-Stars.

The 2003 Indiana High School Basketball Guide is nearing its submission deadline for the upcoming season. Coaches, if you've not turned in your team's information, please do so by September 22. If you don't have a team questionnaire, you can find one online at www.hssp.cc.

If you haven't visited the IHSAA website recently, take a look. They've got a new format and even an introductory flash ad for their role model campaign. Kudos to the IHSAA for a better navigation format as well. One feature coming soon that we'll all appreciate is directions to all the schools in the state.

Former Homestead and Xavier standout point guard Amy Waugh has been named to the coaching staff at Youngstown State. Waugh will work with the Penguin perimeter players while coordinating film exchange, camps, travel and monitor student-athletes’ academic progress. Waugh had a great college career at Xavier after being passed over for the 1999 Indiana All-Star team. She averaged 19.0 points per game as a senior for the Musketeers and led the nation with 3.6 treys per game. She was an Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection several times and also won the ESPN College Three-point Championship after her senior season. Probably the highlight of her career was when Xavier beat Tennessee in the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

More schedule previews are out for Indiana colleges:
  
UE women can expect numerous challenges
BSU Releases Women's Basketball Schedule
Hoosiers 2003-04 Schedule Announced
 

Some other articles of interest:
 
Additional NCAA reforms expected to force athletes to pick up academic pace - San Antonio Express-News
Coaches could be liable for athlete injuries - USA Today
  

Finally, we can't let this day go by without this tribute. In memory of all those who perished two years ago today -- the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and AA flights, the workers in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and all the innocent bystanders -- our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Tippecanoe Valley standout Rebekah Parker (right) has given a verbal commitment to Evansville. The 5'10 guard/forward scored 451 points (18.0 ppg) last season. She also averaged 7.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.2 steals. The Junior All-Star scored her 1000th career point in the sectional final against Plymouth in February and ranks as the No. 2 all-time career scorer in Tippy Valley girls history with 1051 points. TV's all-time leading scorer is Cathy Welch (1250 points), a 1978 Indiana All- Star and member of this year's Silver Anniversary Team. According to Valley head coach Gary Teel, "Rebekah is an outstanding student athlete. Her work ethic, intensity and passion for the game are remarkable. Rebekah makes everyone around her better as many times her unselfish play finds an open team mate. She has been very instrumental in our team's success and will be an impact player for Evansville University." Known for her toughness, Parker even played football in junior high as a wing back. More:
Just one of the guys - Warsaw Times Union

   According to the Knoxville News, forward Shyra Ely (Ben Davis) of Tennessee was in car accident over the Labor Day weekend on her way home to Indianapolis for the holiday. Fortunately the 2001 Miss Basketball did not sustain any serious injuries. However, it has given her a different outlook on life and basketball.

According to latechsports.com, Purdue has signed the 3rd best recruiting class in the country behind Vanderbilt and Duke as determined by Michael White's All-Star Girls Report. Purdue's recruiting class includes Indiana's number one basketball player from the Class of 2003, Miss Basketball Katie Gearlds of Beech Grove. Gearlds will not appear in her usual #5 jersey at Purdue. She has fittingly chosen #1 as her number for the next four seasons.

Washington Township assistant coach Kari Nelson, wife of head coach Dustin Nelson, will be coaching softball as an assistant at Valparaiso University, her alma mater, in the spring. Because NCAA rules prohibit dual coaching roles between high school and college, Nelson will have to give up her duties with the Senators. According to the Post-Tribune, Nelson said, “One of the major decisions was not being able to coach high school anymore. Being together at Washington Township was something special in our relationship. But one neat thing is that I can go watch his basketball games now.”

According to IHSAA Overtime, Julie Meeks has resigned as girls head basketball coach at Sullivan. Meeks, a graduate of Sullivan and IUPUI, was the head coach for the Golden Arrows the past four years, compiling a 60-30 record, including a 14-9 season and a sectional championship in 2002-03.

 Shelbyville's search for a coach with the departure of John Fair to Indianapolis Howe is going slowly. According to the Shelbyville News, a search for a new coach has not produced any viable candidates as of yet.

According to the Indianapolis Star, former Warren Central girls basketball coach Rodney Clark passed away earlier this week. The 53-year-old coached the Warriors to a 1991 Regional championship.

According to the Indianapolis Star, former IUPUI star and Culver Girls Academy graduate Tiffany Kyser (right) has signed to play professional basketball in Greece. Kyser finished her career at IUPUI as the school's career leader in rebounds, free throws made and games played, and second in career scoring. She was a First Team All Mid-Continent Conference player three times in her four-year career. More at the IUPUI website.

Jackie Batteast (SB Washington) of Notre Dame is ready to start the season with an aggressive outlook, according to the South Bend Tribune.  Batteast suffered from a lack of confidence last season and felt her game suffered when the Irish needed her most. But after a summer of playing against some of ND's football players in open gym, Batteast gained new confidence heading into the upcoming season. Batteast and her Division I classmates at Notre Dame were recently honored by the NCAA. The overall Irish athletics program ranked first in the nation in Division I-A graduation rates at 92 percent. IUPUI was also honored as the Division I-AAA school with the highest student-athlete graduation rates above the average of the student body at 34 percent, and Division II Oakland City was honored with 54 percentage points above the student body average for graduation. Indiana was the only state in the nation to have three schools so honored.

Evansville women's basketball will be hosting a coaches' clinic this Saturday. Featured speakers include Brenda Frese from Maryland, Nancy Winstel of Northern Kentucky, Teri Moren (Seymour) of the University of Indianapolis, Bruce Dockery of Evansville Memorial and Tom Campbell of Owensboro Catholic.

Some articles of interest from around the country:
  

Detroit Shock's Ruth Riley steps up to coach's challenge - Oakland Press
Fewer women in coaching - The Buffalo News
Internet helps fans but can hurt teams - Indianapolis Star
IU, Purdue fans surf for sports - Indianapolis Star

The Purdue women's roster is out for the upcoming season, and walk-on Brianna Howard (Southwestern) is not among the Boilermakers listed for 2003-04. According to various sources, Howard has decided to forego college basketball to concentrate on her pharmacy degree, for which she received a four-year academic scholarship from Eli Lilly.  The 2002 Indiana All Star played in 13 games for the Boilermakers last season, averaging 2.0 minutes in those games. As a high school senior, Howard led Southwestern (Hanover) to a 2A state championship, averaging 19.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.8 steals, and 2.7 assists per game. Howard is the second 2002 Indiana player to leave the Purdue roster after Missy Taylor (Connersville) transferred to Louisville earlier this summer. Howard is also the second 2002 Indiana All Star to hang up her high tops. Triton Central forward Jessica Scherer is no longer playing at Evansville due to chronic injuries she sustained during her high school career.

Two of Northwest Indiana's premier basketball players are also premier volleyball players. Senior Julie DeMuth of Merrillville and junior Cassie Kerns of Valparaiso (left) were both profiled recently for the upcoming volleyball season. DeMuth, who just transferred to Merrillville from Highland, is making adjustments to a new school and a new athletic program. For the first time in her high school career, the 5'11 forward played club volleyball in addition to basketball this summer. The 6'3 Kerns, who is seeking respect as a two-sport athlete, will probably be faced with a tough decision next fall, as she is being pursued by D-I programs in both volleyball and basketball. DeMuth and Kerns will face off at least four times this season in both sports, as both Merrillville and Valparaiso are in the Duneland Athletic Conference. Coverage:

Never in her wildest dreams (DeMuth) - The Times
Net success for Kerns - The Times

Marion junior Tanika Mays (right) was recently named one of the top five athletes to watch in the Grant County Chronicle-Tribune preseason Top 25 Athletes to Watch for 2003-04. A North Central All-Conference selection last season as a 6'0 sophomore, Mays helped the Giants to a 9-12 season in 2002-03. According to Marion head coach Darrell Wisser, "Tanika will be my go-to person next year, and we'll try to build around her. She will continue to work hard, and she has the ability to go to the next level and play. She's a very coachable girl."

Kevin Merriweather, of The Family, Inc. fame, was recently interviewed by Gold & Black Illustrated regarding his ties to Purdue. Merriweather was an All-American at Purdue in 1959, when he averaged 20.8 points and 7.9 rebounds during his senior season. Merriweather's daughter, Katrina Merriweather, a 1997 Cathedral grad and Indiana All-Star, was recently hired by head coach Kristy Curry after two years in the coaching ranks at Chicago State and Cincinnati, which gives the Boilermakers a direct line to the top talent going through the TFI program. Two Purdue targets mentioned in the article include sophomore Amber Harris (6'5 C) of North Central and incoming frosh TaShea Phillips (6'4 C) of Indianapolis Brebeuf.

More on the signing of Ft. Wayne Northside senior Nora Didrick to Bethel from head coach Jody Martinez:  “Nora is very competitive and is an exciting player. She also does an outstanding job in the classroom. She has a GPA of 4.06 out of 4.0 scale, which is a great sign of work ethic on and off the court. I like her guard skills, because she can play the point or play the role of a shooting guard. She led her conference last season in 3-point percentage with 46% accuracy. I really believe that Nora’s best basketball is going to begin her senior season and unto her college career. She will fit in well with our style of play and the atmosphere of Bethel College. We are really blessed to have Nora join the Bethel College family for the 2004-2005 season. With Nora making an early decision, hopefully, she will just have a great senior year and enjoy her last year of high school on and off the court.”

Two other players who will be featured in the IHSAA and Indiana Criminal Justice Institute public relations program to promote role model athletes are Jordan Robertson of Greencastle and Kaleigh Gossman of Castle.

The athletic program at University High School in Carmel, a new member of the IHSAA, was recently examined in the Indianapolis Star. University will not participate in tournament play until 2005-06, but that time is highly anticipated by both students and coaches there.

A tempered outlook for the Tennessee women's basketball program for the upcoming season is discussed in the Knoxville News. Both junior Shyra Ely of Ben Davis and sophomore Shanna Zolman of Wawasee are mentioned in the article.