The REPORTER
Three Hamilton County girls basketball teams will take road trips on Saturday in a quest to become regional champions.
Noblesville will make a short trip northeast to Marion, where the Millers play Fort Wayne Snider in a Class 4A regional. Hamilton Heights heads southeast to Lapel to take on Woodlan in a Class 3A regional. Sheridan will make its way down to Southwestern High School in Shelbyville, where the Blackhawks play Northeastern in a Class 2A regional.
Panthers rematch
Noblesville is the only team of the three that played its regional opponent in the regular season. The Millers took on the Panthers in the championship game of the inaugural Noblesville tournament on Dec. 28, with the Millers winning 57-51. Noblesville got off to a good start in that game, leading 21-9 during the second quarter and held firm in the face of Snider’s press defense.
The 4A No. 4-ranked Panthers are 22-2 and have won eight consecutive contests after falling at The Mill, including a Sectional 5 championship.
“They are quick and long/athletic,” said Millers coach Donna Buckley. “They utilize those strengths to turn teams over and score quickly in transition. We will have to avoid live ball turnovers and work hard to slow them down and play more half court basketball.”
Senior Jordyn Poole is Snider’s top scorer at 17.1 points per game, followed by senior Ciara Sims at 14.1 points per contest. Another senior, Tia Phinezy, collects 6.6 rebounds per game. Poole is the assist leader with 4.4, while senior Johnea Donahue makes 4.9 steals per contest.
Noblesville’s tournament win was part of an ongoing stretch where the Millers have won nine of their last 10 games. Noblesville received votes in the final 4A poll of the season and is 16-8.
The Millers have four players averaging in double-digit scoring. Senior Reagan Wilson, an Iowa State commit, has 16.6 points per game, while junior Meredith Tippner is averaging a double-double of 16.1 points and 10.0 rebounds. Senior Ava Shoemaker, who was absent from the first Snider game with an injury, contributes 12.7 points and sophomore C.C. Quigley has 10.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest.
“Our older kids have played in a lot of big games,” said Buckley. “They know what it takes to win. They understand that it is a 32 minute game. There will be runs by each team. They understand that the game is a grind in the postseason. They are confident in themselves and in each other and know that they can make plays on both ends of the floor that will lead to a win.”
First-year success
Hamilton Heights is playing a Woodlan team that has seen success under its first-year coach Dave Randall. The Warriors are 18-8 for the season and won their first sectional championship since 1990 last week at the Garrett sectional.
Huskies coach Keegan Cherry said the Warriors have “tremendous size,” with three starters standing 5-10 or taller. Leading scorer, senior Taylor Kneubuhler is 6-foot and puts in 14.0 points per game, while 5-11 sophomore Alyssa Anderson averages a double-double at 11.8 points and 10.6 rebounds. Senior Chloe Gaff is 5-10. Junior Brooke Kneubuhler hands out 4.0 assists per game.
“We’re going to have to figure out how to get paint touches,” said Cherry. The coach said it will be important for Heights to “score in transition” and play aggressive – “drive the lane, get fouled, get to the free-throw line,” he said.
The 23-2 Huskies finished the year ranked No. 1 in the Class 3A poll. Heights is led by Evansville commit Camryn Runner and her 27.2 points per game. Runner also contributes 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 steals per contest. Senior Ella Hickok (9.5 points) and junior Katie Brown (9.0 points) can also score, with Hickok sending out 4.4 assists per game.
Bring it on defense
Sheridan won its first sectional in nine years last week with an emphasis on defense, holding Covenant Christian to 28 points in the championship game at Park Tudor. The Blackhawks will face another solid defensive team in the regional when they play Northeastern.
The Knights are 19-6 and won their own sectional with two lopsided victories over Union County and Shenandoah 59-21. Northeastern has held its opponents to 33.2 points per game during the season, while Sheridan has allowed its opponents 33.6 points per game.
“We always preach to the girls that defense is all about effort and wanting it more than the other team does,” said Blackhawks coach Jaidlin Bradshaw. “Our girls did a really nice job showing that last weekend and they have to bring it again this weekend. We’re undersized in the post so that’s definitely something we are going to keep an eye on.”
The Knights are led by sophomore Adysson Kircher’s 15.9 points per game, while senior Addisen Mastriano adds 13.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Junior Ava Mikesell averages 10.7 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 steals, while junior Cami Angi collects 7.4 rebounds.
“They had a really awesome season and had a few kids break some records,” said Bradshaw. “They’re a really good team and they’re well coached. They play quick and they’re aggressive. They have a solid post player that we need to limit and quick guards that can shoot the ball from outside.”
Junior Kenzie Garner averages a double-double for the 19-5 ‘Hawks, at 20.2 points and 10.0 rebounds, along with 5.1 assists, 4.1 steals and 2.0 blocked shots. Junior Cecilia Timme adds 9.8 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 steals.
“This week has been really fun,” said Bradshaw. “We have an awesome group of girls and it’s been a blast getting to spend an extra week with them. They show up every day and they’re ready to compete and get better in practice so that makes practice more fun as well. It’s also a lot of hard work and they have continued to bring it – their commitment to the game and each other has been really cool to witness.”