The 2019-20 girls basketball season kicks off for area teams tonight when South Decatur visits Milan.
On Wednesday, we’ll preview the Columbus East girls, and on Thursday, we’ll preview the Columbus North girls. Today, we take a look at the other seven area teams.
Hauser
With the Jets just having wrapped up their volleyball season in the semistate on Saturday, Monday was the first day coach Chad Evans had more than two varsity players at practice.
One of those players is sophomore Kyliegh Parrott. Parrott led the Jets with 12.0 points a game last season and added 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals.
Hannah Johnson, a 6-foot senior, and 5-8 senior Aunaka Wasil are returning starters, while 5-6 senior Marnie Schwartzkopf and 5-9 junior Gabby Johns were part-time starters. Adrianna Musillami, a 5-6 sophomore, and 5-8 sophomore Hannah Taylor split time between varsity and JV.
“We have seven solid kids,” Evans said. “Hannah Johnson has been playing varsity basketball for four years, and Aunaka has been playing varsity for three years. Gabby Johns played quite a bit last year.”
It’s no secret that Hauser will try to play up-tempo this season.
“We’re going to try to push the ball,” Evans said. “It will be a faster-paced game. We’re going to put a lot of shots up. We have plenty of shooters, that’s for sure. Our goal is to try to get up 30-plus 3s a game and get a shot up every 12 seconds.”
Evans implemented a pack-line defense last year and will continue to utilize that.
“It doesn’t matter if you play man or zone, it’s pretty much the same concept,” Evans said. “It will be easier to teach it this year since we’ve caught onto it.”
The Jets went 7-17, including 1-5 in the Mid-Hoosier Conference, in Evans’ first season at the helm. They’ll be looking to improve on those records this winter.
“I feel pretty confident that we’ll win some games this year,” Evans said. “It just depends how they respond to being in basketball shape.”
Columbus Christian
Like Hauser, the Crusaders just started practicing with their full team on Monday after their volleyball team played in the National Association of Christian Athletes Tournament last week.
Six players, including two starters return from last year’s 21-7 squad. The returning starters are 5-4 sophomore Kayla Jones and 5-6 senior Madison Henderson.
Kinidy Morgan, a 5-4 senior, was the sixth player last year. She will move into the starting lineup, along with 5-8 sophomore Sarah Lormior and 5-6 sophomore Madi Blair.
“I’m excited for it,” Columbus Christian coach Kay Jones said. “What’s going to be different is that we’re going to have three new starters. The practices for the next two weeks are having those new starters playing with the returning starters so they can build their chemistry together. We’re going to have to make adjustments and get them ready for the season.”
Eva Blair, a 5-4 eighth-grader, also played some varsity last season. New to the team are 5-3 seventh-graders Lauren Sanders and Mara Nickerson and 5-4 seventh-grader Madelyn Carpenter.
“Once they start practicing with the girls and playing in games, that’s when I’ll be able to see how they’re able to respond,” Kay Jones said. “They’re going to have to step up their games.”
Jennings County
The Panthers are looking for a big year after returning all five starters and adding three promising freshmen.
Two big scorers are back in 5-7 senior Addyson Kent (14.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.0 spg) and 5-9 junior Lily Ernstes (14.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg). Also returning are 5-4 junior Kali Thompson, 5-4 senior Brooke Mowery and 5-6 senior Kenna Maschino.
Morgan Lane, a 5-3 junior, and 5-11 sophomore Megan Vogel split time between varsity and JV last year. Looking to make an immediate contribution are 6-0 freshmen Juliann Woodard and Charly Barlow and 5-9 freshman Alivia Elmore.
“We’re a much bigger team than what we’ve been in the past,” Jennings coach Kristi Sigler said. “We have a lot of experience back, and we have a lot of youth. We have 10 kids who can play, and they’re all pushing for time. This is definitely the most depth that we’ve had.”
The Panthers are looking to improve on a 10-15 record, including 2-5 in the Hoosier Hills Conference.
“The first couple weeks, it’s gone really well,” Sigler said. “The kids are working very well together. They’re working hard.”
Brown County
The Eagles have a new coach in Emily Lewellyn, who has coached at the junior high level the past seven years. She takes over a varsity program that went 16-7 and won the Western Indiana Conference title last season.
Five seniors are gone from that team, including career 1,000-point scorer Allison Stogsdill. A return a pair of starters return in sophomore point guard Abby Fleetwood (10.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.0 apg, 4.0 spg) and her sister, senior Anna Fleetwood (6.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg).
Sophomore Avery Patterson (4.0) is the only other returner who saw significant action last season.
“This ability to rebuild will also be a challenge,” Lewellen said. “Only three players have consistent varsity experience. Those individuals are excellent, but there are not many of them to fall back on if we encounter difficult situations. We also do not have size on our side. Our offense will have to rely on other things than a strong post down low and we will have to find ways to protect the basket from other teams with a powerful center.”
Sophomores Savannah Oden, Katie Tipton and Abigail Watson dressed varsity last season, but played mostly JV. New to the varsity this year are seniors Halie Lunsford and Isa Fogg.
“Many of them have been playing together for years already,” Lewellyn said. “Their ability to see each other on the court and work together is fantastic. Having time on our side allows us to find what plays to our strengths of speed, quickness, strong defense, and capable shooters, and continue to mold it for years to come.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers set a school record for wins last season, going 17-6, including 6-0 to win the MHC title.
Edinburgh lost the school’s all-time leading scorer, Destiney Ramey, along with second-leading scorer Haven Link, to graduation. The other three starters return in 5-8 senior Annelise Lollar (13.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.8 apg), 5-3 junior Alyssa Funkhouser (3.0 ppg) and 5-7 junior Callie Hancock (6.6 ppg).
Gracie Crawhorn, a 5-11 sophomore, likely will claim one of the remaining starting spots. The other could go to 5-9 junior Bethany Burton or 5-7 junior Carly Cowan.
“We are a pretty athletic bunch and quick, but just not as scoring skilled as we have been in the past,” Edinburgh coach Amy Schilling said.
Malkia Willard, a 5-11 senior, has been injured, but could contribute in the post.
“We have some freshmen and sophomores that could end up helping on varsity,” Schilling said. “I might end up dressing 15 players.”
South Decatur
The Cougars have a new coach in Tyler Johnson, who has been JV girls coach at North Decatur and teaches at both North Decatur and South Decatur.
Johnson takes over a team that went 5-19, including 0-6 in the MHC.
“Being a county rival to South, I kind of knew their strengths and weaknesses,” Johnson said. “The nucleus that we have is pretty strong. We have quite a few scorers coming back.”
The top one is 5-9 senior Lana Bell (14.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg). Other returning starters include 5-5 senior Ali Boilanger, 5-9 senior Megan Manlief, 5-9 junior Lauryn Pate. Erynn Dyer, a 5-6 senior who played varsity as a sophomore, is back after not playing last season and will fill the fifth starting spot.
Also back to the varsity are 5-8 junior Kirsten Meece and 5-5 sophomore twins Katie and Mary Gasper. They are joined bu 5-5 senior Abby Wheeler and 5-6 sophomore Addison Orengo.
“We’ve stayed pretty healthy,” Johnson said. “We’re pretty heavy senior-based, and that kind of helps with all the summer stuff being shortened. Having girls that are more experience and older has helped me out.”
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars set a school record for wins last season, going 24-4 and winning a sectional title before falling to eventual Class A state champion Loogootee in the regional semifinals.
The top two scorers return from that team in 5-10 sophomore point guard Bailey Tabeling (21.4 ppg) and 6-3 senior Butler commit Sydney Jaynes (15.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 4.1 apg).
“Anytime you have two dynamic scorers like them, the defense has to focus on more than one player,” Trinity coach Mike Lang said. “Syd gets a lot of double teams down in the post, and they’re going to have to give Bailey at lot more attention this year.”
Kailene Cockerham, a 5-1 junior, and 5-10 junior Emma Schepman are returning starters. Genesis Munoz, a 5-6 senior has the inside track on the final starting spot.
Schepman’s twin sister 5-10 junior Katelyn Schepman and 5-9 freshman Liza Froedge also figure to see playing time, along with 5-6 junior Kayla Goecker 5-7 junior Hannah Durham.
Unlike last year, when the Cougars volleyball team reached the state finals, the entire basketball team has been in place since practice began last week. Still, they don’t open until Nov. 14 at Hauser.
“Our schedule is loaded,” Lang said. “It’s there to prepare us for the tournament. If we can stay healthy, we have a chance to make a deep run.”
Hauser
Nov. 12;at Milan;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14;Trinity Lutheran;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 17;Columbus Christian;6 p.m.
Nov. 20;Waldron;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 23;Southwestern (Shelby);7:30 p.m.
Nov. 27;at South Ripley;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 28;at Rising Sun;1:30 p.m.
Dec. 2;Jac-Cen-Del;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 3;Indianapolis Lutheran;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10;South Decatur;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12; South Dearborn;1:30 p.m.
Dec. 15;Edinburgh;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 21;vs. South Decatur in Edinburgh Tournament;1:30 p.m.
Dec. 22;at Edinburgh Tournament;TBA
Dec. 29;Crothersville;7:30 p.m.
Jan.7;at Greenwood Christian Academy;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 12;at Oldenburg Academy;6 p.m.
Jan. 19;Greensburg;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21;at Morristown;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 26;North Decatur;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 28;at Shelbyville;7:30 p.m.
Columbus Christian
Nov. 14;at Medora;6 p.m.
Nov. 17;at Hauser;6 p.m.
Nov. 20-21;at Indiana Christian Tournament;TBA
Nov. 27;Dugger Union;4 p.m.
Dec. 5;Medora;1 p.m.
Dec. 8;at Martinsville Tabernacle;6 p.m.
Dec. 11;at Madison Christian;6 p.m.
Dec. 15;Horizon Christian;6;15 p.m.
Dec. 19;Washington Catholic;6 p.m.
Jan. 2;Evansville Christian;4:30 p.m.
Jan. 9;at Cannelton;4:30 p.m.
Jan. 14;at Crothersville;6 p.m.
Jan. 18;Christian Academy of Madison;6:15 p.m.
Jan. 21;Indiana Christian;5:30 p.m.
Jan. 22;at Shawe Memorial;6 p.m.
Jan. 28;South Decatur;6 p.m.
Jan. 30;at Southern Roads Conference Tournament;TBA
Feb. 6;Legacy Christian;TBA
Feb. 12;at Horizon Christian;5:30 p.m.
