Plenty of positives in girls hoops to look back on
Today is the semi-state round of the IHSAA girls basketball state tournament and, unfortunately, no local teams will be playing.
Only one area squad participated in last weekend’s regional. Still, there were plenty of highlights throughout the last four months. Here is a quick recap of the 2022-23 girls basketball season.
Plymouth and the rest of the Sectional 3 field knew they were in trouble in the postseason when defending Class 3a state champ, South Bend Washington, was moved up to 4a this year due to the Success Factor. The Lady Panthers immediately became the prohibitive favorite and ended the Lady Pilgrims’ season. With two wins today, SB Washington will be back in the state finals.
The start of sectionals though, was one of the highlights for the PHS season as the Lady Pilgrims won the first two games in dominating fashion. Other high points during the year were NLC road victories over double-digit win teams Northwood and Mishawaka, a home win against a Class 4a 14-win Logansport squad, and a four-game winning streak over 10 days in mid-january. Seniors
Taylor Delp, Ellie Jones, Claire Mcdonald and Halle Hopple were strong team leaders. Delp set a new school record for career rebounds and finished as the third leading scorer in the area (13.6 ppg). Rylee Mann, Lena Jones, Sophie Miller, Mady Sullivan, Tynley Gantz, Eva Sheedy and alana allen form a solid nucleus for next year’s team.
argos was the only sectional winner locally, collecting the title for the second straight year and fifth time in school history.
another season highlight was three wins over Culver with something big on the line each time: Bell Game, Bi-county, sectionals. The sectional win was a three overtime thriller on Culver’s home court. The Lady Dragons finished second in the Hoosier Plains Conference behind only No. 7 and semi-state participant Bethany Christian. Other impressive victories were over double-digit win teams Rochester, Lakeland Christian, Westville and Triton. Seniors Emma Dunlap, Bella Stults and Baleigh Binkley were key
players all season. Junior Samantha Redinger finished as the area’s top scorer (15.6 ppg). Morgyn Barcus, Ellie Bollenbacher, ava Stackhouse and aleasia Sarver are four solid players who should see increased roles next year.
It was a historical season for LAVILLE. among the highlights for the Lady Lancers were the most wins in school history (19) and the school’s first Bi-county Tournament championship in 30 years. The Bi-co run was part
of an eight-game winning streak that included two sectional wins before bowing out in the sectional final to a South Central team with a 23-4 record. (One of SC’S losses was to LV during the regular season) Other impressive wins for the Lady Lancers were over Bremen (twice), 4a schools Mishawaka and Logansport, 3a Knox in overtime, North Judson, plus rivals argos (twice) and Triton.
Seniors Lucy Sherk,
Heaylyn Kwiatkowski and Lauren Edison were steady leaders for the program and classmate Quincy Blodgett was a nice addition this year after not playing last season. Underclassmen Lily Smith, London Kwiatkowski, Brooke Edison, Mikalah Kuskye and Jasmine Foster logged valuable minutes and will provide a solid nucleus moving forward.
GLENN dealt with
personnel losses all season, but probably played its best during sectionals. Season highlights included wins over Plymouth, Knox (twice), South Bend Adams, SB St. Joseph and Laville. Four-year letterwinner Kennedy Hayden was the only senior and she will continue playing in college. The Lady Falcons could be a major player next year as underclassmen Sophia Romer, Keelyn Bradley, Alivia Turnage, Danielle Devine, Addison Reese, Daelyn Nance and Lucy Hayden ooze with potential.
With an extremely young nucleus, BREMEN fell short of double-digit wins for the first time in nine years playing a tough NIC and non-conference schedule. There were still some definite high points though, like wins over Glenn, New Prairie (twice) and a fourth straight
Bi-county championship game appearance. Fouryear letterwinner Katie Moyer will certainly be missed, but underclassmen Mikayla Shively, Chloe Miller and Kila Foster will provide a veteran presence next year. Freshmen Eliana Grubbs and Emma Kincaid gained valuable experience this season and did not play like varsity rookies. Look for them, along with classmate Emma Lawmaster, to have expanded roles next season.
CULVER doubled its win total from a year ago and played its best basketball at the end of the season. The Lady Cavaliers had two overtime thrillers in the last two weeks of the season, defeating No. 13 Demotte Christian in two OTS, then taking Argos to three extra sessions in sectionals. A win over Class 3A Knox was another highlight. Next year’s team will definitely feel the loss of seniors Rose Peterson, Kaylee Hamilton, Kennedy Jackson, Maisy Mccuen, Luci Overmyer and Abbi Kisela. Underclassmen Grace Sieber, Brynn Berndt and Amiyah Williams are the leading candidates to take on larger roles next year.
TRITON had its most wins (15) since the 2014-15 season, many of them by coming from behind late in the game to pull out the victory. Impressive wins included those over Class 4A Plymouth, 3A schools Glenn (twice), Jimtown and Northwood, along with W’s over Argos, Bremen, and Culver. Four-year letterwinner Kinsey Atkins was one of the area’s top outside shooters. Fellow senior Emily Bugg was a nice addition, but unfortunately, was hampered by injuries. Junior Addyson Viers was the area’s second-highest scorer in the area (14.4 ppg) and along with classmates Jocelynn Faulkner and Jenna Bules provides a great core for next season. Freshman guard Sierra Hawley may have improved more than any other player in the area during the season.
CGA jumped out to a 7-2 record, then was 10-3 at one point before ending up matching its win total from a year ago (13). One season highlight was winning the Culver Academy Classic in mid-january. The Lady Eagles will need to replace the contributions of graduating seniors Dionna Craig (13.2 ppg), Lena Spiller and Brighton Bird, but Jena Kerr, Reid Seddelmeyer, Valencia Miller and Piper
Brumm were key performers who should be back in the fold next season.
OREGON-DAVIS has to say goodbye to fouryear players Elizabeth Johnson and Kylee Saylor, but freshman Sarah Thompson was one of the area’s top newcomers (13.2 ppg). Classmate Gabriella Krause gained valuable varsity minutes as well and along with seniorsto-be Reagan Danford and Madison Wireman give the Lady Bobcats a strong base for next season.