These players will be key to how each girls' basketball team will fare this season
Girls' basketball tips off this week, so here's a rundown of our five area teams as play gets going this week:
Bloomington North
LAST YEAR: 9-14, 2-3 CI. Cougars took big steps forward last year with a maturing lineup, matching the program's most wins in a season since 2012-13. All the same, they had a rough 2-9 finish so competing with the better teams on the schedule is their next step.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Avery Patterson, Sr. G (7 ppg, 2 apg); Mallory Barrow, Sr. G (9.4 ppg, 3 rpg); Ava Reitmeyer, Jr. G (7.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg); Mia Robbennolt, Jr. F (11.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Ava Robbennolt, So. G (6 ppg).
OUTLOOK: An already deep and experienced lineup picked up a couple additional pieces with sophomore transfer Kenli Sullivan (8.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg) from Eastern Greene and senior guard Jamie Lian back after taking a year off. Sullivan comes in off a solid volleyball season that was shortened a few games by injury, but figures into the starting lineup right off the bat. Look for a team that will be hard to pigeonhole this year, with a lineup of versatile, positionless players who can handle multiple spots on both ends of the floor. It's much better equipped to dictate the flow than in the past and will have a lineup of players who can score off a jumper or drive and guards who can take care of the basketball. It should also remain a team with balanced scoring with its top five producers back. Defensively, the Cougars can be more aggressive this year. "Our depth may end up being our greatest strength," said head coach Jeff Turmail (33-82 in five seasons). "Our versatility, we have players who feel comfortable doing multiple things on the offensive end, and that can make us hard to scout and prepare for. It gives us a chance to play different lineups and with the skill sets and length they bring in we can give teams different looks."
ROSTER (No. Player, Cl. P, Ht): 2 Onika Rutledge, So., G, 5-5; 3 Isabel Parmertee, Jr. G, 5-6; 4 Jamie Lian, Sr. G, 5-3; 5 Avery Patterson, Sr. G, 5-5; 10 Mallory Barrow, Sr. G, 5-11; 13 Kenli Sullivan, So. F, 5-11; 15 Kendyl Feutz, So. F, 5-11; 20 Morgan Barrow, So. F, 5-10; 21 Ava Reitmeyer, Jr. G, 5-10; 22 Ellie Livingston, So., G, 5-4; 23 Mia Robbennolt, Jr., F, 6-0; 24 Ava Robbennolt, So, G, 5-7; 25 Libby Rice, Sr. F, 5-10.
SCHEDULE NOTES: North will switch to the Triton Central Tournament this year with Heritage Christian, Salem, Lawrenceburg, Northeastern, Southport and Jac-Cen-Del. Also look for an announcement of a girl-boys doubleheader at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with Northview on Dec. 30.
Bloomington South
LAST YEAR: 5-19, 2-3 CI. Rough year with a ton of growing pains for the Panthers, who were exposed to the 33rd toughest schedule in the state. South still held teams to 49.5 ppg but struggled offensively at 39.5 as the most experienced player back, senior Kendall Harmon, missed the first half of the season to injury.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Carlie Pedersen, Sr. G (10.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg); Caitlin Heim, Sr F (9.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Mya Lawrence, Sr G (5.5 ppg); Abbie Lucas, Jr. F (4.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg); Grace McKay, Sr. G (1.3 ppg).
OUTLOOK: A team of mostly first-year varsity players, South has had a chance to grow up over the summer and will be a lot more comfortable on a varsity floor as this season begins. Heim and Addie Lucas give the Panthers a pair of threats inside, while Pedersen hit 33 3s last year. South should have some decent depth to work with in junior Kate Barada (coming off cross country) and sophomore Molli Lucas, along with some promising (and tall) freshmen: 5-10 Julia Lashley, 6-0 Violet Hall, 6-1 Rebekah Arnold, Daniella Grimes and Audrey Craft. Defense is always a Panther calling card and it should be much improved this year. "It's a totally different feeling and atmosphere," said South coach Larry Winters (318-194 in 24th year). "We're coming in off a pretty good summer and with our core intact and we'll add some younger kids to the mix. We feel good about where we're at. Our scrimmage, we see some things we've got to iron out. But one thing that was kind of a bright spot is that our defense is way ahead of where it was at this point last year. It's not just understanding the intensity, it's everyone helping each other and the communication. It's better by leaps and bounds."
ROSTER (No. Player, Cl, Pos. Ht): 1 Kate Barada, Jr., G, 5-7; 3. Carlie Pedersen, Sr., G, 5-6; 4 Caitlin Heim, Sr., F, 5-10; 10 Macy Hays, So., G 5-5; 11 Molli Lucas, So., G, 5-8; 14 Gracy McKay, Sr., G, 5-5; 21 Mya Lawrence Sr., G, 5-7; 22 Violet Hall, Fr., F, 6-0; 23 Audrey Craft, Fr., G, 5-7; 24 Daniella Grimes, Fr., G 5-8; 25 Eva Bryant Sr, G, 5-6; 32 Julia Lashley, Fr., G, 5-10; 33 Abbie Lucas, Jr., F, 6-0; 34 Rebekah Arnold, Fr., F 6-1.
SCHEDULE NOTES: South is now in a pre-Christmas tournament at Whiteland, along with Perry Meridian, Franklin County. Panthers also take on two of the favorites in its new sectional alignment, Mooresville and Center Grove.
Edgewood
LAST YEAR: 19-5, 7-3 WIC. Strong season where four of the losses came by a total of 10 points, but too many injuries made it too hard to get a chance to win a sectional. It was an experienced and senior-dominated team that graduated so this year is a starting over point for the Mustangs.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Jaylen Robinson, Sr. G (3.4 ppg); Alayna Flynn, Sr. G (2 ppg).
OUTLOOK: Add green to the school colors this season for the Mustangs, who have only two seniors and both came off the bench last year. That means leaning on some younger players, two freshmen, forward Macey Crider and guard Madi Bland, will start. It's going to take some time to find confidence on the offensive end and cohesion on the defensive end. They've also got to adjust to being on the floor for most of the game, with seven in the main rotation to start the season, with juniors Elane McElhinney, Emily Whaley and Maris Holmes rounding out the group. "We've always been able to have three who could guard the ball," said head coach Gary Sims (217-128 in his 15th year), "So we were able to pressure and play the wings harder because we could contain the dribble. I'm not so sure we've got that so we may be doing some things differently in what we emphasize. And we don't have any size really. Offensively, I don't know where the points are going to come from. But Crider is one of the best athletes as a freshman that I've had. They have to learn what it means to play at this level and play 32 minutes. I just hope we get better as we go. Our two seniors played behind that group for three years that led the team. They're both kind of quiet, so they'll lead by example. But Flynn is an aggressive player so they'll feed off that and Jaylen just shows up and plays."
ROSTER (No. Player, Cl., P, Ht.): 10 Madi Bland, Fr., G, 5-3; 11 Emily Whaley, Jr., F, 5-7; 12 Ally Bland, Fr. G, 5-2; 13 Elane McElhinney, Jr., G, 5-5; 14 Madison Burks, So., G, 5-1; 15 Addison Yearby, Fr., F, 5-5; 20 Jaylen Robinson, Sr., G, 5-6; 21 Alayna Flynn, Sr, G, 5-4; 22 Macey Crider, Fr., F, 5-9; 23 Morgan Richardson, Jr., G, 5-3; 25 Ava LaRoche, Fr., F, 5-8; 33 Kaitlyn Wright, Fr., F, 5-9; 41 Maris Holmes, Jr., F, 5-9.
SCHEDULE NOTES: Edgewood has dropped out of the Eastern Greene Tournament and will instead participate in the eight-team Gibson County Tournament prior to the Christmas break. Mustangs will play first five games at home in 12 days, then not come back to the Mustang Corral until Dec. 16.
Lighthouse Christian
LAST YEAR: 6-13, 4-1 Southern Roads. The Lions went through a rough year with low numbers. They remained competitive within their conference, but having just six or seven players, and sometimes as few as five, made things tough, ands scoring was a chore against potential sectional foes such as North Central or Shakamak.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Victoria Mann, F, Jr. (3 ppg, 4 rpg); Abagail Rousey, C, Jr. (10.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg); Zoe Crites, G, So. (3 ppg, 3 rpg).
OUTLOOK: The roster is down to just eight after sophomore guard Marissa Webb (6.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg) was lost for the entire season after suffering a fully torn meniscus. The Lions will miss her athleticism and quickness and will turn to sophomore Zoe Crites to take over up top. Crites will be ready to go after handling the ball over the summer. It's still a young team with no seniors and two juniors, Mann and Rousey. LCA will work though its leading scorer again, the 5-11 Rousey, but will look to provide more outside threats this year to help reduce the double teams and clogged lane Rousey regularly started to see last year. But there are plenty of questions with five freshmen diving into varsity play, led by Akeah Winders, Lily Stevenson and Jane Holdeman. "Zoe has grown a lot," said head coach Brian Brown (16-47 in his fourth year). "She's been working on her own and she had a different mentality this summer. She's taking on a leadership role and I told her she'd be a captain. We're going to lean on her, Abagail and Victoria. Our No. 1 goal is to win the conference tournament, so Cannelton is who we're going after. Then we hope we can make some noise at the sectional."
ROSTER (No. Player, Cl., P, Ht.): 3 Jane Holdeman, Fr., G, 5-6; 10 Katie Burlingham, Fr., F, 5-8; 11 Victoria Mann, Jr., F, 5-9; 12 Olivia Cartwright, Fr., F/C, 5-7; 21 Aleah Winders, Fr., G/F. 5-8; 22 Lily Stevenson, Fr., G, 5-5; 23 Zoe Crites, So., G, 5-5; 24 Marissa Webb, So., G, 5-9; 41. Abagail Rousey, Jr., C, 5-11.
SCHEDULE NOTES: The Lions will play six of their first eight at home this season.
Eastern Greene
LAST YEAR: 17-6, 7-0 SWIAC. It was a year with great successes for the T-Birds, but came without a sectional win and with a few more losses after the season ended, with the head coach stepping down and a starter, Kenli Sullivan, transferring to Bloomington North.
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Keylee Hudson, Jr. G (13.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.1 spg, 1.3 bpg); Kenady Hudson, Sr. F (8.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Kaylyn Criger, Sr. G (2 ppg, 2 prg).
OUTLOOK: Eastern turned to a veteran head coach in Joe Pigg to take over a program on the rise. The next step will be finding some post-season success in a deep sectional that also includes Linton and Sullivan dropping back to 2A, Paoli, South Knox and defending champ North Knox, which won three sectional games by a total of seven points last year. Lost is Kenli Sullivan, who transferred to Bloomington North, Mia Uland and Brynlee Perkins, who did not return. Kenady and Keylee, who is dealing with a shin injury, will be the top players, with Criger stepping up her role this year. A pair of hard-nosed guards in junior Bianca Wyatt and sophomore Chyann Padgett will fill out the starters. Their biggest struggle right now is adapting from the pack line to the defensive system. Communication will be a big key. "I think they have responded pretty good," said Pigg, 189-107 in 14 seasons. "They still have a ways to go to where I'd like to be defensively. The numbers aren't great. We have 12 total (which could affect JV games), so it's been a process getting there. We're young at a couple of spots, so it's a good thing we did get to play a lot in the summer."
ROSTER (No. Player, Cl., P, Ht): 1 Lydia Plaff, So., G, 5-2; 2 Bianca Wyatt, Jr., G, 5-5; 3 Ashley Hudson, Sr., G, 5-4; 10 Mackenzie Shahan, Jr., G, 5-5; 11 Chyann Padgett, So. G, 5-6; 12 Claira McGee, Jr., G, 5-4; 13 Melanie Wyatt, Jr., G, 5-5; 15 Kaylyn Criger, Sr., G, 5-8; 20 Clara Hawk, So., G, 5-4; 22 Keylee Hudson, Jr., 5-8, G; 32 Kenady Hudson, Sr., F, 5-11; 33 Ema Studnickova, Jr., F, 5-9.
SCHEDULE NOTES: Added 1A power Vincennes Rivet and test themselves against both Bloomington North and South this season as well as 4A Greenwood.
Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com or 812-331-4381 and follow on Twitter @JimGordillo.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: 2022 girls basketball previews for Bloomington area teams
