This year’s Hamilton Heights girls basketball team will trend younger this year, but there will be plenty of talent and enough experience for the Huskies to be competitive.
Huskies coach Keegan Cherry said there are three players returning who have significant experience, including one who recently committed to play in college. They were part of a Heights team that went 14-11 last season.
“From there it drops to lots of young ones that will have high expectations,” said Cherry.
Leading the way will be senior Jillian Osswald, who made news this fall by committing to Taylor University to continue her basketball career. Osswald is a solid all-around player who averaged 13.4 points per game last season, making her the second-leading scorer behind now-graduated Bayleigh Runner. Osswald had good numbers across the board, with 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest.
The other two players Cherry mentioned with significant experience are both juniors. MyKayla Moran improved greatly during her sophomore year, leading Heights in rebounds with 6.3 per game. She also added 9.2 points per contest and totaled 17 blocked shots for the season. Syd Runyan also provided quality minutes last year, averaging 2.6 rebounds and 2.3 points.
These three players will make up part of the Huskies’ projected starting lineup. Also on that list is sophomore Kaylee Rhoton, who helped out last season to the tune of 3.1 points per game.
“From there we have several players that will battle for varsity minutes,” said Cherry.
The fifth starting spot is slated to be taken by a freshman, Camryn Runner. She is one of three freshmen expected to make an impact for Heights this season. The other two are Hadleigh Cherry and Ella Hickok.
Junior Alayna Baber and sophomore Cassidy Felger, both of whom played in a few varsity games last season, are both expected to be varsity contributors this season, as will sophomore Rachel Hunter.
The Huskies’ season was delayed, but Heights is scheduled to finally open play Friday, Nov. 20 at Lebanon. The Huskies will then play their first home game Nov. 24, hosting Greenfield-Central.
“Overall, I’m hopeful we can be competitive,” said Keegan Cherry. “With the large number of underclassmen, it may take awhile to fully understand what it takes to win. We will be underdogs in 3A Sectional 24.”
Heights schedule
Nov. 20: at Lebanon, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 24: Greenfield-Central, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2: Fishers, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5: at Twin Lakes, 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 8: Northwestern, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12: at Clinton Prairie, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 15: at Bishop Chatard, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17: at Delta, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 2: Marion, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 7: at Lewis Cass, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9: Westfield, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 12: at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 16: at Tipton, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 19: New Castle, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 22: at Hoosier Conference playoff game, 8 p.m.
Jan. 28: at Lafayette Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.