Forest Park seniors hope to cap their special careers with a return trip to state

FERDINAND, Ind. — Tony Hasenour is watching a game in the old Forest Park high school gym.

He was the girls basketball junior varsity coach at the time. The players on the floor wouldn’t join the program for another six years. A group that eventually will leave a legacy on the walls as long as Buechler Arena stands.

You’d think that was evident from the beginning. But it was not on that day.

“I think they scored two points in that whole game,” he says.

IHSAA girls basketball:Gibson Southern wins regional over county rival; Forest Park also advances

What has transpired in recent years isn’t the credit of one person. It’s been a collective effort to elevate the program into a consistent winner at the highest level. At the center has been one group, and since their arrival, the Rangers have pushed the boundary on what was possible.

We’re talking about the senior class at Forest Park. Arguably the most successful the program has seen.

The moment it clicked for Gabey Gray was last year. She arrived to the program from North Daviess prior to her freshman season. She watched the picture slowly form. Not until her junior year did this group finally play at the same level.

And the results were something to behold.

“If you put in the time,” Gray said. “and have the want and drive to be there, it’s going to come. There is a lot of senior classes that had success. I’m just thankful we’re one of them.”

The Forest Park senior class is seven athletes in total: Carley Begle, Lydia Betz, Danielle Eckert, Alivia Gehlhausen, Gray, Amber Tretter and Erica Werner. Each of a different skill level and role on this team.

Most of this group has played together since elementary. That time together and the resulting chemistry can’t be replicated. It not only becomes apparent when the ball is tipped but while watching them work together to achieve a common goal.

Hasenour could tell this group enjoyed the game at an early age. The longer they played the more their potential grew. By junior high, this class wasn’t losing a game. Once they reached the varsity level – some starting as sophomores – the success didn’t stop.

“It’s due to their hard work, dedication and determination,” said Hasenour. “It’s the time outside of the gym. They all fell in love with the game. When you see several players improving dramatically as individuals, that builds the strength of the team up.”

The achievements are too long to list in one setting. But the highlights, those banners and plaques on the walls of Buechler Arena, show exactly what this group accomplished in four years.

Forest Park has won 84 games since they entered high school with this class playing a key role in most of them. The Rangers have won three straight sectional championships, only the second time that's happened in program history. They're the first group to win back-to-back regional titles. Plus, a Pocket Athletic Conference championship this winter.

The crowning achievement, of course, was the blue ribbon earned at Gainbridge Fieldhouse last February. Forest Park defeated Frankton 52-44 for the program’s first state championship after losing to Fort Wayne Luers in 2000.

“It’s been put into our heads that we can do something great,” said Eckert. “We achieved it last year and hope to again. I just remember they instilled that into us and gave us a goal to work for.”

The entire starting lineup this season is comprised of this class. The victories continued to pile up with a 23-3 record and a spot in the Class 2A semistate at Shelbyville on Saturday. It’s also clear to see why. The seniors each bring something different yet needed.

Tretter, a Miami (Ohio) recruit and potential Indiana All-Star, and Begle are one of the top post duos in Southern Indiana. Betz is the Rangers’ point guard and will play at the Division II level with Cedarville. Gray has stepped into the starting shooting guard spot, while Eckert is the glue piece in the backcourt.

Gehlhausen and Werner play limited minutes off the bench but still bring the necessary depth and energy to any winning program. This group works well together because they understand their roles. They know their own strengths and weaknesses.

Can you argue with the results? The Rangers are favored to return to Indianapolis for a second time.

“We lift each other up,” said Gehlhausen. “It’s good to have that because it leads to this. We know how to play each spot. The last four years have been an unbelievable feeling. I’ve dreamt of this since third grade.”

They also spoke of a positive culture within the program. It didn’t begin with them, the Rangers have won double-digit games every year since 2005, but they embraced it. A belief that something great could be achieved was instilled from the beginning.

The seniors are also making sure it continues beyond their time here. They volunteer at basketball camps and clinics. They participate in school clubs, play other sports or simply cheer on their classmates. Such a small thing can be overlooked.

“We can show younger classmates what kind of positivity you need to have to get this type of success and how to act,” said Werner. “I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world. I’m very glad I’m on this team and able to help on or off the bench.”

Hasenour recalls a moment the day after the state championship last year. His niece, who doesn’t attend Forest Park, wanted her hair done like Gray. The next generation is watching. He reminds his team, not just the seniors, at any opportunity.

The Rangers continue their title defense against Greencastle (23-4) at 9 a.m. CT in the first semifinal. Led by senior guard Gloria Brewer (25.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.8 steals), the Tigers Cubs won their first regional since 1980 and have achieved a 17-win improvement over last year.

Should it win, Forest Park would face North Knox (27-1) or Eastern Hancock (23-3) in the championship on Saturday night. Regardless of where the finish line is, either this weekend or next at the state final, this senior class left a mark on the Rangers’ program.

“They’re like rockstars,” Hasenour said. “They think I’m crazy when I say little girls look up to them so much. These girls support and cheer for each other. They could care less about individual statistics and more about the team winning. They are everything you’d want in a student-athlete.”

Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA girls basketball: Forest Park seniors hope for return to state