By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
LAPEL – The Sheridan Blackhawks don’t take winning for granted, but losing is never the goal. That trend held true, once again, during the Lapel Regional at Lapel High School.
Winners of 22 straight before the opening tip last Saturday, the Class 2A 11th-ranked Blackhawks (25-1) went to work immediately with a 15-0 run to start against Lewis Cass (19-7) and forced an IHSAA mercy-rule running clock before the start of the fourth quarter.
Senior Kenzie Garner posted her 25th double-digit performance this season with 13 points, while senior Shelby Eaton had a game-high 14 points, as Sheridan claimed its 23rd consecutive victory and second straight regional championship, 60-23.
“It’s a feeling you truly never get used to, especially with how hard the girls have worked. They deserve all of it. I’m really happy for them, and we’re just really happy with how hard they played and how ready to go they were,” Sheridan head coach Jaidlin Bradshaw said. “We’re hoping we can bring it next week.”
A year ago, the Blackhawks stood in the same position after capturing the program’s first-ever regional title before losing to Eastern Hancock, 62-54, in overtime during the semi-state semifinals.
This postseason, they have unfinished business on their minds.
“For myself I consider (winning) an expectation, but I really just want to get to state,” Garner said. “It’s an expectation for sure.”
The Blackhawks cemented their spot in the IHSAA state tournament elite eight with overwhelming execution against the Lewis Cass Kings, who had won six straight games and entered as back-to-back sectional champions.
Garner converted 1 of 2 free throws to start the game and by the 5-minute mark in the first quarter, the program’s second career-leading scorer had the Blackhawks ahead 7-0 with two straight 3-pointers.
Sheridan’s Nova Cross scored 13 points for the Blackhawks during their regional win. (Allison Waitt)
The Blackhawks came out firing. They sank 5 of 10 from behind the arc in the initial quarter, shot 9 of 15 by halftime from long range and ended the game 10 of 20 overall.
“I’m not gonna lie. I wasn’t necessarily expecting us to shoot it that well. Not complaining, but I will say the girls put in the work to be able to shoot it that well,” Bradshaw said. “They worked every single day, so it’s truly a reflection of what they do and show up to do every single day.”
The Blackhawks surpassed their 58.65 points per game average midway through the fourth quarter behind a 15-2 run leading into halftime for a 40-10 advantage and a 12-2 run to end the third, which launched the running clock.
“I was proud of them. Obviously, we practiced here this week. Shot the ball O.K., and they were locked in and focused. We try to emphasize that every week. Be locked in and focused. Be locked in and focused. Do your job. Do your job. They’ve just been getting it done,” Bradshaw said. “We’re really super proud of them for continuing to do that and showing up every day.”
The Blackhawks’ defense showed up and limited the Kings to fewer than seven points in each frame, including a mere four points in the second quarter.
Four players reached double digits for Sheridan with senior Nova Cross posting 13 points, four rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Brielle Garner had 12 points, two rebounds and two steals.
Kenzie Garner grabbed a game-high seven rebounds to go with a team-high nine assists while increasing her career points total to 1,681. Garner is chasing the all-time program scoring record of 1,724 held by Audrey Reed (2018). She already passed Brittany Welch (2017) at 1,649 for second overall.
“Honestly, I love passing the ball. If I could have all the assist records, I would,” Garner said. “I’m not too concerned about (the scoring record). I just want to win.”
Both skillsets are paving the way for victories. Sheridan’s 25 wins are a single-season best in Sheridan girls’ basketball history. In 2023-24, Bradshaw’s regional championship team went 20-6. The program’s previous best finish was 20-7 under Bradshaw’s former head coach Jeff Guenther in 2014-15.
Bradshaw, a 2012 Sheridan graduate, took over the program in 2018-19 with 102 wins compared to 52 losses in seven seasons, including sectional and regional repeats.
“I was fortunate enough to coach under my high school coach for a year. He’s a great guy. I learned a ton from him, but you’re in the trenches truly the first couple of years, I feel like, as a head coach, taking over a program,” Bradshaw said.
“As great as coach Guenther was, and he is. He’s awesome. Just trying to take something over and making it your own is a big job. I’m lucky that since I’ve been here, I’ve truly had kids that just bought into what we want them to do. Hopefully, that leads us to a couple more wins.”
Two more Ws will secure a feat no other Sheridan girls basketball team has ever achieved – a semi-state title and a trip to the IHSAA State Finals.
The Blackhawks haven’t lost since dropping a 54-51 home game against 3A Brebeuf Jesuit on Nov. 19.
“They have big goals. They have realistic goals for themselves, which is winning a state title,” Bradshaw said. “That’s been their goal since they lost last year. It’s been in the back of their minds. They’ve done a great job taking the steps they’ve needed to get to that spot.”
Their first leap was faith, in one another, unselfishly, which showed with 21 total assists recorded as a team against Lewis Cass and a 23-for-39 shooting (58 percent) night.
“It was just great shooting all the way around. Thank God, it went in,” Garner said. “That loss was earlier in the season. We still had some things we had to figure out, but I think once we figured out what we needed, then on we went. You don’t want to lose. If you lose, you go home, so the goal is to keep on winning.”
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