By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – If Thursday’s Sheridan girls basketball season opener is any indication, there could be some exciting times ahead for the Blackhawks.
Sheridan began its 2021-22 campaign by hosting Hoosier Heartland Conference opponent Carroll at Larry Hobbs Hall. The ‘Hawks held their own against a solid Cougars team, one that eventually beat Sheridan 58-51.
The Blackhawks were down 10-3 in the first quarter before making an 8-0 run to take an 11-10 lead. Freshman Kenzie Garner scored the first four points of that run, then junior Jacquellynne Bates made a layin and freshman Cecilia Timme got a basket off a steal.
Carroll went back in front 12-11 before back-to-back scores from Timme and junior Chaney Smith pushed Sheridan ahead 15-12. The ‘Hawks would hold a three-point lead on two other occasions, including a 19-16 advantage early in the second quarter.
But the Cougars took control after that, going on a 14-1 run to lead 30-20. Carroll would not trail again.
“And that just put us in the hole, a hole that we couldn’t get ourselves out of,” said Sheridan coach Jaidlin Bradshaw. “We can figure that out, I think it’s a much different game for us.”
The ‘Hawks were still within 32-24 at halftime and never let the Cougars get too far ahead. Carroll held a 12-point lead three different times in the third quarter, and were still ahead 46-34 at the beginning of the fourth period.
Sheridan then made a 7-0 run to get the lead down to 46-41. Timme made a jumper, Garner drained a 3-pointer and Taylor Bates was good on a layin. The Cougars answered with their own 7-0 run to take a 53-41 lead, but the ‘Hawks blasted back with another 7-0 run.
Smith and Garner made layins and Timme hit a 3, keeping Sheridan within 53-48 with less than a minute to go. Free throws got the Cougars back up 56-48, but Garner’s triple cut the lead to 56-51. That would be all for the Blackhawks, thought, while more Carroll free throws got the score to the final margin.
The freshmen wound up as the leading scorers, with Garner pouring in 18 points and Timme adding 11. Another freshman, Ashley Webel, played some in the second quarter.
“I think they did good,” said Bradshaw. “I’m hoping that they got their first-game jitters out and that going forward, they know a little bit more of what to expect and they’ll be more prepared for it in the future.”
Timme also had seven rebounds and six steals, while Garner pulled five rebounds. The experienced players also made their presences known, with Smith adding nine points and Taylor Bates making five steals.
“The seniors and juniors and the sophomores, they do such a good job of bringing those freshmen along and taking them under their wing,” said Bradshaw. “I think it’ll come along.”
Sheridan will go on the road for its second game, traveling to Brebeuf Jesuit next Tuesday.
CARROLL 58, SHERIDAN 51
Sheridan FG FT TP PF
Lilly Chesney 1-6 0-0 2 2
Cecilia Timme 5-10 0-0 11 4
Kenzie Garner 7-17 2-3 18 4
Chaney Smith 4-16 1-4 9 3
Taylor Bates 2-6 0-1 4 2
Berkley Williams 1-11 1-3 3 1
Jacquellynne Bates 2-9 0-0 4 5
Ashley Webel 0-1 0-0 0 0
Totals 22-76 4-11 51 21
Score by Quarters
Carroll 14 18 12 14 – 58
Sheridan 15 9 10 17 – 51
Sheridan 3-point shooting (3-27) Garner 2-7, Timme 1-1, Smith 0-8, Williams 0-4, J. Bates 0-4, Chesney 0-1, Webel 0-1, T. Bates 0-1.
Sheridan rebounds (23) Timme 7, Garner 5, Smith 3, T. Bates 3, Chesney 2, Williams 2, J. Bates 1.