Dawn Huff wearing two hats at Adams High and loving it
Dawn Huff admits things that have been a "little hectic" as she wears two important athletic leadership hats at Adams High School.
The Eagles athletic director/girls basketball coach also says without hesitation that it's all definitely been worth it thanks to the group of girls on her roster.
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Huff, a 1999 Adams alum, has her squad sitting at 5-5. The Eagles, who lost 43-40 at Goshen Saturday night in a non-conference game, are also 4-3 in the tough Northern Indiana Conference. Adams owns league wins over both New Prairie and Saint Joseph so far this season.
Huff, who is in her fifth season as the Eagles coach, took over as the school's AD/Dean of Students back in the summer.
"I feel like we are ahead of the game from where we were last year," said Huff. "I feel like our girls are improving every day. They have the drive and determination, and they know how to win. I knew all of them had this in them. I saw it in the summer."
The Eagles are scoring 43 points a game, while allowing 42. They have a balanced offense with six players averaging at least four points. Adams boasted a big-time scorer last season as senior star Marissa Shelton averaged 23 a game. The Eagles went 10-10 last year after winning a total of 20 games the previous four seasons.
"This team is playing great defense and we are doing it together on offense," Huff noted. "It's different from last year in that we need multiple players now to score points for us. But I also like that. Marissa was a great player for us last year. But it's more of a team this season in that we have to count on everyone, and we are doing it together this season."
"This team is just a lot of fun to be around every day. I stress to them to just go out and play. This is just a game. They really have great attitudes. They are one of the most caring and kindest teams I've had and that's one of the big reasons why I came back as coach this season."
The Eagles are led by senior Brooklyn Cooper, the team's top scorer at nine points a contest. She is now playing the two guard after playing point most of the season for the Eagles.
Adams has also counted on junior Lois Carr, who is the team's defensive leader and averages about seven points per game.
"Lois is the heart and soul of our defense," said Huff. "She runs our defense, and her confidence has grown this season."
The Eagles have also gotten big contributions from seniors Makayla Crumbly, Jayne Kelly and Taylor Worbington, along with juniors Meredith Anella and Marigrace Foster and sophomore Zariyah Wiley.
Huff, who played basketball at Adams, gives a lot of credit to her support system for allowing her to be able to do two things she loves.
"Our administration, my assistant coaches, our teachers have all stepped up to help me do this," said Huff of her dual role. "I can't thank all of them enough. Without them, it would not be possible for me to be coaching this season.
"It's been a little hectic at times running back and forth between our practices and other events, but it's also been so worth it. I don't regret it for a second. I look forward to work and practice every day because of the tremendous student athletes we have at Adams.
"Basketball has been my life since fourth grade. And to now be a mentor is a very important thing to me."
Huff was named the NIC Co-Coach of the Year last year after her team finished 5-6 in the league. She and her husband Andy have two sons in Braylon and Micah.
Huff expects her team, which has a total of seven seniors, to keep improving. She looks forward to getting back to work despite back-to-back losses, including a 63-33 NIC loss to a strong Elkhart team Friday night.
"We need to iron out a couple of things and keep moving forward," Huff related. "We had a couple of tough losses this weekend, but I'm ready to get back at it again."
Knights collect key win
Marian picked up a huge win by downing host Penn 52-51 in NIC action Friday night.
Senior star guard Nevaeh Foster scored 21 points as the Knights beat Penn for the second straight year and just the second time ever. Foster, an Indiana All-Star hopeful and Western Kentucky recruit, was averaging 26.1 points a game through the first 10 games.
Seniors Shayla Alexander and Aliyah Hershberger had 12 and 10 points respectively as Marian moved to 6-1 in league play.
Marian, which is ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, saw its seven-game win streak end with a 62-49 home loss to Class 4A No. 7 Fort Wayne Northrop Saturday afternoon. Northrop improved to 9-1.
The Knights, who are 10-2, only other loss this year was 76-29 to Class 4A No. 1 and unbeaten Washington. They have done it too without star MaKaya Porter. The senior, who averaged 19 points and almost 10 rebounds per game last year, has been sidelined all season due to a knee injury. Marian, which finished 20-6 overall and 10-1 in the NIC last year, hopes to get Porter back possibly in January.
"To be 10-1 without Porter at this point and with our only losses being to the best team in the state, I feel pretty good," said Marian coach Steve Scott Saturday prior to hosting Northrop.
"Nevaeh was great and our other girls played their roles perfectly," added Scott on the win over Penn.
Panthers impressive once again
Washington delivered another message Saturday night.
The Panthers may not only be the best team in the Hoosier State, but also in the Midwest.
Washington, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A in Indiana, defeated West Bloomfield (Michigan) 86-74 in the Best of Michigan Holiday Classic played at Belleville (Michigan) High School. Bloomfield was ranked No. 1 and is the defending Division 1 state champion. The game, which was just the second of the season for Bloomfield, was the closest win of the season for the Panthers.
Senior guard and Purdue bound Rashunda Jones poured in 28 points as the Panthers improved to 12-0. Washington, which went 28-3 to win the Class 3A state title in 2022, has a winning margin of almost 48 points a game.
Sophomore Kira Reynolds had 20 points, 17 rebounds and 10 blocked shots for Washington. Senior point guard and Maryland recruit Amiyah Reynolds, who scored her 1,000th career point in a 91-4 win over Clay last week, finished with 16 points to go with eight rebounds and eight assists. Sophomore Monique Mitchell had 16 points and hit four treys.
Washington coach Steve Reynolds was spirited Sunday following the statement win for his nationally ranked team, whose entire starting five has signed with or received Division 1 college offers.
"We've heard the murmuring about us not playing anyone which is absurd and disrespectful to top 10 teams like Lake Central and Noblesville, then also to Marian and Penn," said coach Reynolds via text message.
"People are slaves to scores so when we beat teams bad, it's because they aren't good? That's asinine.
"We are just really clicking right now. So to get a double digit win in Michgan, against Michigan's No. 1 team and a top 20 team in the country does wonders for our confidence and puts the naysayers on their heels a little bit."
"Rashunda was phenomenal attacking the basket Saturday. They had no one to keep her in front. Amiyah was rock steady. She played 31 minutes while everyone else was sorting through foul trouble. Monique was steady as well. Kira was our anchor on both ends as she took a beating. It's amazing the level of physical play she increasingly is having to endure. Big time triple double for her."
Jimmies make history
The Jimtown program made a little history Friday night.
Coach Shaunte Williams' squad picked up a 52-46 NIC win at Saint Joseph. The victory was the first in program history over St. Joe for the Jimmies.
Sophomore Natalie Butler and junior Justyce Williams each scored 12 points to lead Jimtown. Junior Abbey Brown had 11 points and freshman Kylie Wiegand 10 in the win.
The Jimmies, who lost 61-19 to St. Joe last season, improved to 4-8 overall and 2-5 in the NIC. Jimtown finished 4-18 a year ago and 2-14 two seasons ago under coach Williams, a former standout player and multi-sport athlete at Jimtown.
Conference standings
Northern Indiana (through Saturday games)
Washington 12-0 (7-0), Marian 10-2 (6-1), Elkhart 7-4 (5-1), Bremen 5-5 (5-2), Penn 6-4 (3-2), Adams 5-5 (4-3), Glenn 5-7 (4-3), New Prairie 6-6 (2-5), Jimtown 4-8 (2-5), Saint Joseph 2-9 (2-5), Clay 2-10 (0-6), Riley 1-10 (0-7).
Northern Lakes (through Saturday games)
Northridge 10-2 (2-0), Warsaw 9-2 (2-0), NorthWood 6-3 (2-1), Wawasee 7-4 (2-1), Goshen 6-4 (1-1), Mishawaka 6-4 (0-1), Plymouth 3-7 (0-2), Concord 4-8 (0-3).
Other area teams: Fairfield 10-1 (4-0 NECC), LaVille 9-2 (2-0 HNAC), South Central 9-2, Triton 8-5 (0-2 HNAC), Michigan City 2-8 (0-3 DAC), LaPorte 0-11 (0-3 DAC).
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Adams High School girls basketball off to solid start
