By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – Even if you’ve been playing basketball for years, a first game of the season will always feel different.
The Sheridan girls basketball team opened up its 2023-24 campaign Thursday, hosting Hoosier Heartland Conference rival Carroll at Larry Hobbs Hall. It was a close contest throughout, but the Cougars used a late 6-0 run to get past the Blackhawks 48-44.
Sheridan coach Jaidlin Bradshaw said her players admitted to some nervousness during the post-game talk.
“That’s one of the things that the girls mentioned in the locker room after the game,” said Bradshaw. “They said ‘We were a little jittery. We were a little shaken up.’”
Even with the jitters, the Blackhawks still played tough. Sheridan led Carroll 13-12 after the first quarter. Shelby Eaton scored five points and freshman Brielle Garner opened her high school career with a 3-pointer.
The ‘Hawks led 19-15 at one point during the second period before the Cougars came back to tie it at 22-22 by halftime. Carroll led several times in the third quarter, but Sheridan would always even the score. The Cougars were up 29-25 before Eaton and Nova Cross made layins to tie the game.
A three-point play from Madison Wagner gave Carroll a 34-31 advantage at the end of the third period. Sheridan surged ahead 36-34 after Cecilia Timme scored off a steal and Cross drained a 3. Timme then made two free throws to put the Blackhawks up 38-36 with 5:40 left in the game.
The Cougars went on a 6-0 spurt to lead 42-38. Sheridan tied the game once more after free throws from Eaton and Kenzie Garner, but Carroll got one more 6-0 run to finish off the game.
Timme, who missed last season with an injury, led the Blackhawks with 11 points. Eaton and Cross both scored 10. Timme also pulled seven rebounds.
“I think she probably played about 30 or 31 minutes tonight,” said Bradshaw. “She was amazing. Couldn’t ask for anything better after being off for a year. She learned a ton last year watching and I think she did an amazing job.”
Kenzie Garner collected five rebounds and dished out five assists. Cross also had five rebounds.
“When I first walked into the locker room after the game, I asked them what they thought,” said Bradshaw. “Normally I come in with a bunch of thoughts, but I just asked them ‘What did you guys think?’ There were definitely some things we need to work on, but also definitely a lot of positives. One of the girls said ‘We brought a ton of energy,’ and I’m like, ‘Yes, we did.’ More energy than we had over the summer or last year. So, I was pleased with the energy we brought for sure.”
Sheridan travels to Brebeuf Jesuit on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game, then returns home later in the week for games against Covenant Christian next Thursday (Nov. 16) and Elwood next Saturday (Nov. 18).
CARROLL 48, SHERIDAN 44
Sheridan FG FT TP PF
Cecilia Timme 4 3-4 11 3
Sadie Timme 0 0-0 0 3
Kenzie Garner 1 5-6 7 4
Shelby Eaton 3 3-4 10 3
Nova Cross 4 0-0 10 3
Mackenzie Smith 1 0-0 3 0
Brielle Garner 1 0-0 3 4
Makenzy Terry 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 14 11-14 44 20
Score by Quarters
Carroll 12 10 12 14 – 48
Sheridan 13 9 9 13 – 44
Sheridan 3-pointers (5) Cross 2, Smith, Eaton, B. Garner.
Sheridan rebounds (26) C. Timme 7, Cross 5, K. Garner 5, B. Garner 4, Eaton 3, S. Timme 2.