This year’s Hamilton Southeastern girls basketball team will trend towards the younger side when the Royals begin their season this weekend.
Southeastern will have a different look this year after some key graduations, most notably 2020 Miss Basketball Sydney Parrish, who is about to start her college career at the University of Oregon. But that doesn’t mean the expectations will be lowered any for the Royals, as they will aim to be competitive in each game.
“This team will be young and inexperienced,” said Royals coach Chris Huppenthal. “After losing seven starters the last two seasons, this team could have used this past summer to help them grow. While we may struggle initially, we still hope to be competitive each night.”
Senior Lydia Self, who played on HSE’s state championship team as a sophomore, will provide leadership for the Royals. Self, a 5-10 forward, returns 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 points and 1.6 assists per game.
Two juniors are back from last year. Ryan Viele, a 5-7 guard, averaged 4.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game, while Makayla Hinshaw, a 5-8 guard, added 4.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per contest.
The above three players will be projected starters for Southeastern. Filling the other two spots are two sophomores, Olivia Brown and Riley Makalusky, both of whom saw varsity action as freshmen last season.
Senior Brin Bair and sophomore Lauren Stewart also return some varsity experience. Shalyn Rathbun is the third senior on HSE’s roster this season. The junior class will feature 6-3 Zoe Bolding, Caleigh Scott and Gabi Layman, while Teegan Acres and Jocelyn Davis are part of the Royals’ sophomore list. Another sophomore, Charity Beal, is out injured.
Southeastern will start its season Saturday with two games at the Center Grove Classic. The Royals play the host Trojans at 11:30 a.m., then take on Ben Davis at 6 p.m.
SOUTHEASTERN SCHEDULE
Nov. 7: At Center Grove Shootout
– Center Grove, 11:30 a.m.
– Ben Davis, 6 p.m.
Nov. 14: HSE Shootout
– Columbus East, TBA
– Terre Haute South, TBA
Nov. 20: at Franklin Central, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 21: at Fort Wayne Carroll, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 24: Brownsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 27: at Carmel, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 2: at Noblesville, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 8: Pendleton Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11: at Avon, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15: New Castle, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: Fishers, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29: Springboro (Ohio), 1 p.m. at Paul Loggan Memorial Invite at North Central
Dec. 30: at Paul Loggan Memorial Invite at North Central, time and opponent TBD
Jan. 2: Northridge, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 7: at Warren Central, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15: Westfield, 6 p.m.
Jan. 19: Lawrence North, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 22: at Zionsville, 6 p.m.
Jan. 26: at Pike, 7:30 p.m.