Blue River girls basketball pursuing school-record 4th straight IHSAA sectional title

SELMA, Ind. — Blue River girls basketball has been a local Class A force the past three years.

The Vikings (3-2) have won three consecutive sectional titles, and a 2020 regional championship, since head coach Terry Bales took over the program in 2017-18. Before Bales, Blue River's last sectional title was in 1984-85.

Bales entered this season with a 72-30 record, with last season's 22-4 (9-0 in the Mid Eastern Conference) mark being his best yet. The Vikings lost two key contributors in Mallory Cross and Abby Thornburgh from that group, though, so Bales' team was tasked this year with replacing their 14.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.

But Blue River still has senior center Ally Madden, one of the area's best interior players, sharpshooting junior Maci Chamberlin and solid depth around them to make another tournament run.

Although four consecutive sectional titles would break the school's record, the Vikings still have a long way to go toward being a definite postseason contender.

"I don't know because we still have to grow. I hope we can become a team that's capable of doing that. I don't think that we're there yet," Bales said of the team's chance at a sectional championship. "We've got to learn how to defend better ... try not to have the turnovers that aren't forced. So we've got some growing to do, and certainly (a sectional title) is where we hope to end up."

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The Vikings, ultimately, will go as far as Madden takes them. She entered this season already a 1,000-point scorer who averaged about a 16-point double-double over the past two years, and will likely soon surpass 1,000 career rebounds.

Madden has been the key cog in Blue River's return to postseason prominence, and the team's Tuesday night 77-63 win at Wapahani (4-2) showcased her importance. She notched 27 points, 12 of which came in the fourth quarter that halted the Raiders' comeback efforts, and dominated the paint all game on both ends.

In addition to her sound shooting — Madden is currently shooting a career-high 75% from the line and 64% from the field this season — she used her proficient footwork to score consecutive baskets on the block right after Wapahani narrowed its deficit to two points.

Bales also highlighted her improved leadership qualities, citing her huddling her teammates together for a quick pep talk when the Raiders captured momentum. Blue River then went on an 11-2 run thereafter to secure the win.

"This season she eats healthy, she's much more streamlined ... and stronger, and it makes a big difference. She's an excellent player," Bales said. "She is a leader ... even though we have some young spots, we still have a lot of people that have experience and they understand how the game's played."

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Madden is asked to do more this season. Her role as mostly an interior player is now expanded as she's allowed to, at times, play on the perimeter as well and do more shooting and playmaking.

Blue River's guards aren't as experienced as in previous years, so in games where teams play a press defense like Wapahani did, the 6-foot-1 Madden helps bring the ball up when the point guard is trapped.

The halfcourt offense also runs through Madden. Bales' goal is to get the ball to her down low so she can either score or kick-out to shooters when the defense collapses. Madden is doing a lot of quick swing passes as a result, which has led to a career-high 2.5 assists per game average thus far.

"I like (the added responsibility)," Madden said. "I know that sometimes I'm able to get the team going, so I feel like whenever we can get the ball going quickly, and me being out there, that might help us get more motivation."

Madden's offensive accomplice is Chamberlin, whose perimeter skillset meshes perfectly with Madden's inside presence. Although Chamberlin has struggled shooting the ball to start this year, she averaged 15.9 points per game last season, making 45% of her total shots and 72 triples at a 41% clip.

Her passing is perhaps her best contribution, however, as what Blue River boasts in shooting it lacks in guard playmaking. Chamberlin's 3.2 assists per game average last year has risen to 4.3 per game so far this season, and the defensive attention she garners helps Madden and the rest of the team's shooters thrive.

"We've definitely gotten a lot closer than when she first came. She was a little shy at first, but now me and her joke around. We know each other on the court," Madden said. "My sophomore year we didn't really have a (knockdown) shooter, so the way they stopped us was cover me in the post. That's how we lost in semi-state. Having Maci out there helps a lot."

"It gives us an inside-out punch," Bales said. "Her passing is super ... she sees the floor so well and she's very unselfish."

Blue River's most improved player has perhaps been senior forward Sami Loveless. After averaging 4.8 points per game as a role player last season, Loveless increased her 2020-21 average to 9.8 points per game following a career-high 18-point performance against Wapahani.

Ten of her points came in the final frame when her relentless energy and effort overwhelmed the tired Raiders. Loveless is a capable shooter, as are most of the Vikings, but her values lies in the physicality she brings each game.

She puts her body on the line to help the team. She's scrappy, takes charges, runs down loose balls, competes for rebounds and plays hard defense, all of which often leaves her with a "daily" dose of bumps and bruises, according to Bales.

Madden said she's an extremely valuable asset to have on Blue River's side but admitted it's tough to practice against Loveless. Still, she makes the team tougher, and that coupled with her experience should help the Vikings maintain their postseason success.

"Her energy is what we need. Everybody kind of feeds off of her, and what she does, she just lifts us all along," Bales said. "Last year, she was coming off the bench. She played about half the game. She was the same kind of player but not as disciplined ... she has become more (in control) and not turning it over."

Blue River has stumbled some to start the season, losing its opener at Waldron (7-0) and falling 50-49 at home against Blackford on Nov. 27. Madden attributes it to adjusting to new players in new roles, but Wapahani was the team's best offensive performance thus far.

Freshman Charlee Gibson and senior Samantha Webb have done a solid job in Thornburgh and Cross' places, and the Vikings overall have a depth of shooting skill few Class 1A teams can match.

Improving defense is the focus right now, and Madden and Chamberlin will carry the offense. If it all can come together, this Blue River bunch has a chance at school history.

"We've just got to keep on focusing on what we need to do to get better and taking (one) game at a time and just focusing on what we need to get done," Madden said. "I definitely think we have the potential to go far in the state run, it's just a matter of doing what we need to do."

Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on Twitter @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com or 765-729-4742.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Indiana high school girls basketball: Blue River seeks sectional title