By RICHIE HALL
Hoosier Crossroads Conference play begins for the league’s girls basketball teams on Friday, and one of the first games will be a match-up between two undefeated teams.
Westfield travels to Fishers for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The Tigers are 5-0 to start the season, while the Shamrocks are 4-0. Both teams have solid experience, in addition to younger players that are already making names for themselves.
Fishers’ top scorers are sophomores. Katie Burton is averaging 12.2 points per game so far, with Audra Emmerson contributing 10.2 points per game. Balance is the name of the Tigers’ game, with six players averaging at least 5.0 points or more so far this season.
Junior Tamia Perryman is playing sensational so far, averaging 8.2 points and leading the Tigers in rebounds (7.6) and assists (3.2) per game. Burton leads the team in steals, with 3.0 per contest. Junior Lydia Stullken is pulling 6.6 rebounds, with senior Cierra Tolbert right behind at 5.8 rebounds.
The Tigers have thus far beaten Southport 65-38, Ben Davis 63-55, Anderson 67-48, Valparaiso 61-34 and Lake Central 41-28.
“I think we’re ready for a test,” said Fishers coach Lauren Vail. “Obviously Westfield is playing good basketball. It looks like they’ve got a talented freshman that’s doing well for them.”
“It’s going to be ‘Follow Me Night,’ so we’re going to have our little girls here for the youth program, and I think it’s going to be a fun night,” said Vail.
The Shamrocks are also balanced, with six players averaging at least 5.0 points per game. The leading scorer is a senior, Jade Shipley; she has poured in 11.5 points per contest so far.
Then there’s the talented freshman: Alyssa Crockett. She has been making a big impact for Westfield, averaging 9.8 points and leading the ‘Rocks in four categories: Rebounds (11.5), assists (3.8), steals (2.8) and blocked shots (2.5).
Ashtin DeCraene is scoring at an 8.0 points-per-game clip, and is handing out 3.0 assists per game – the third Westfield player with three assists or more per contest. Junior Ava Henson is contributing 7.0 points, while sophomore Gigi Eldredge is grabbing 6.5 rebounds per game.
The Shamrocks’ victories have come over Lapel 51-35, Pendleton Heights 48-45, Lawrence Central 54-42 and New Castle 59-46.
“Coach Vail does a great job with her team,” said Westfield coach Ginny Smith. “She has them prepared and they play hard for her.” While every game is important and playing well in the conference matters, Smith said, “our focus is getting better every day and making sure we are doing the right things with our kids. This will be a great test for us.”
OTHER CONFERENCE OPENERS
Hamilton Southeastern travels to new HCC opponent Franklin Central. The undefeated (5-0) Royals are ranked No. 4 in Class 4A, and have defeated Ben Davis 47-42, Southport 95-18, Lake Central 68-37, Valparaiso 73-22 and Perry Meridian 77-14. The Flashes are 0-2, having fallen to Whiteland 60-56 and New Palestine 58-33.
Noblesville (3-2) heads over to Brownsburg to take on a 5-1 Bulldogs team. The Millers have wins over Fort Wayne Snider 67-35, Arsenal Tech 84-17 and Greenfield-Central 54-50, and losses to Lawrence North 52-32 and Hamilton Heights 36-29. Brownsburg has wins over Hamilton Heights 60-35, Plainfield 75-40, Center Grove 54-48, Ben Davis 65-60 and Mooresville 65-47. The Bulldogs’ only loss is to Bedford North Lawrence 65-57.
Avon hosts Zionsville on Friday. The Orioles are undefeated at 4-0, having beaten Martinsville 53-40, Covenant Christian 59-34, Terre Haute North 59-43 and Terre Haute South 67-31. The Eagles are 2-2, with wins over Danville 52-50 and Lebanon 90-31 and losses to Lawrence North 52-45 and Carmel 46-44.
Fishers’ Tamia Perryman is leading the Tigers in both rebounds and assists through the first five games of the season. Perryman is averaging 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. (Richie Hall/File photo)
Westfield freshman Alyssa Crockett leads the Shamrocks in rebounds (11.5), assists (3.8) and blocked shots (3.0) per game so far this season. (Richie Hall/File photo)