By RICHIE HALL
This year’s Noblesville girls basketball team will be a familiar team to Miller fans.
Four of Noblesville’s returning starters are back from last season, during which the Millers went 15-8. That included an eight-game win streak that gave Noblesville an undefeated month of January and a sectional win over Anderson. The Millers then played sectional champion Carmel tough in the semi-finals before falling 50-45.
While Noblesville did graduate Indiana All-Star Emily Kiser, now playing at the University of Michigan, the four returning starters are tough, talented players.
“This is a tough group,” said Millers coach Donna Buckley. “They know how to win. We will look to our seniors to provide the leadership we will need to be successful.”
The three seniors include two double-figure scorers. Mallory Johnson is the top returner with 12.2 points per game; she also averaged 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest. Next in line is Maddie Knight, who contributed 11.4 points per game, in addition to 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
Noblesville’s third returning senior is Madison Whetro, who averaged 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. The fourth returner is junior Abby Haley, who brings back the most assists per game (3.1).
Haley is one of five juniors on the team, and each of them brings back varsity experience. In fact, Haley and Anna Kiser played in all 23 of the Millers games last year (as did Haley). Sarah Etchison will be another solid player, as she averaged 3.8 points per game last season. Kailyn Ely played in 21 games, and Devon Ray got in five games.
Two Noblesville sophomores are also on the varsity list: Emily Wood and Mallory Miller. Both played a handful of games last year as freshmen, so that means everyone on the Noblesville varsity roster has some varsity experience.
“We will be experienced,” said Buckley. “We will need to rebound and take care of the basketball to give ourselves a chance on game nights.”
The Millers open their season at home next Thursday (Nov. 1), playing Lawrence North.
VARSITY ROSTER
Seniors: Mallory Johnson, Maddie Knight, Madison Whetro.
Juniors: Kailyn Ely, Sarah Etchison, Abby Haley, Anna Kiser, Devon Ray.
Sophomores: Mallory Miller, Emily Wood.
JUNIOR VARSITY ROSTER
Juniors: Sarah Matte, Olivia Stinson.
Sophomores: Abby Baker, Olivia Busalacchi, Emery Denison, Jayla Jones, Makenna Mundy, Sarah Unison.
Freshman: Neely Berezny.
C TEAM ROSTER
Junior: Helen Tietze.
Sophomore: Deanna Grey.
Freshmen: Aubrey Arms, Shelby Cates, Megan Feltner, Mary Claire Fisher, Abby Hoover, Lilly Kempf, Natalie Solomon.
Noblesville’s Madison Whetro is one of three returning seniors for the Millers girls basketball team this season. Noblesville opens its season next Thursday by hosting Lawrence North. (Kent Graham/File photo)