By RICHIE HALL
As summer basketball finishes up around the state, one team looks to have a bright future.
That would be the Noblesville girls team, which hosted its own Shootout Saturday at The Mill. The Millers went undefeated at the tournament, winning all four games.
“We played pretty well today,” said Noblesville coach Donna Buckley.
The Millers took on teams from Anderson, Madison, Mount Vernon and Greenfield-Central, and defeated them all. Noblesville did so with contributions from everyone that took to the court, with players both young and experienced.
“We had just so many outstanding performances by several kids on both ends of the floor,” said Buckley. “It was an exciting way to finish the summer.”
Abby Haley, Anna Kiser and Kailyn Ely are the seniors for the Millers this year, all of whom having played significant varsity minutes. The juniors contain some experienced players such as Makenna Mundy and Mallory Miller, as well as Emery Dennison.
“Emery Dennison played really well for us,” said Buckley. “She’s going to be a junior. She’s a kid who played a lot of JV for us in the past and some varsity last year. But she played really well for us this summer.”
Noblesville also have several talented freshmen that will make immediate impacts on the team once the basketball season rolls around. The group contains Ashlynn Shade, a 5-9 guard who started for the Millers on Saturday. Other freshmen stepped up as well.
“Dani Mendez played really well, she’s a freshman,” said Buckley. “(Kailtyn) Shoemaker played really well, another freshman. We had so many kids kind of in and out today. But really, every kid who played did something really well and they were just learning to utilize their skill set and have some fun with it.”
Saturday’s tournament wrapped up summer ball for Noblesville, which will now have two weeks off for moratorium. After that, Buckley said that her team will primarily be in the weight room, as the players will be busy with AAU ball.
“Give them two weeks to just recuperate and enjoy being a kid, and then we’ll get back in the weight room in July,” said Buckley.
Anna Kiser is one of three seniors on the roster for the Noblesville girls basketball team during the Millers’ summer season. Noblesville finished the season with a 4-0 record at its own Shootout on Saturday. (Richie Hall)