By Steve Fields
Linton — The Linton Miners are going to slow down and enjoy the girls high school basketball season. Or at least that is the hope of first-year coach Brad McKinney.
With 6-foot-1 Megan Barnes inside and 5-2 guard Savannah Mason putting up 3-pointers, the Miners are going to play a patient, half-court game.
Barnes averaged a double-double of 12 points and 10.4 rebounds per game and Mason led the Miners in 3-pointers while averaging 10.3 points and 2.2 assists per game last season.
“We want to do some things to look inside. Do some things to help get Savannah [Mason] some shots coming off screens,” McKinney said.
The six returning letterwinners from last year accounted for 30 points a game, 22 of which came from Barnes and Mason.
Izzy Carpenter, a 5-5 senior who averaged 5.9 points and 4.5 rebounds, is the only other returning starter from last year’s 5-16 team. Olivia Wells, a 5-10 junior, averaged 1 point; Kristin Riggleman, a 5-7 junior, averaged 1.5 points, and Bradlea Beard a 5-4 sophomore, averaged 1.5 points.
“The two things we’re going to have to do much better to give ourselves a chance to win is take care of the basketball and play a little bit better defense,” McKinney said.
Beard will start at point guard, Mason at the two-guard with the 6-1 Barnes and 5-10 Wells inside.
“[Mason and Beard] are going to have to learn to take care of the basketball and get the ball inside to our size,” McKinney said.
Linton, a 2A program, places in the SouthWestern Indiana Athletic Conference (SWIAC) and the Tri-River Conference.
Linton roster
Player Ht. Yr.
Megan Barnes 6-1 Sr.
Izzy Carpenter 5-5 Sr.
Mindy Kurtz 5-5 Sr.
Alex Daluga 5-3 Jr.
Kristin Riggleman 5-7 Jr.
Olivia Wells 5-10 Jr.
Bre Alsman 5-6 So.
Bradlea Beard 5-4 So.
Savannah Mason 5-2 So.
Kelsey Overton 5-7 So.
Ashley Tibbett 5-7 So.
Coach — Brad McKinney (first year)
Linton schedule
Today — Monrovia, 6 p.m.
Thursday — North Knox, 6 p.m.
Nov. 20 — At North Daviess (SWIAC), 6 p.m.
Nov. 25 — South Knox, 6 p.m.
Dec. 4 — Eastern Greene (SWIAC), 6 p.m.
Dec. 11 — Clay City (SWIAC, TRC), 6 p.m.
Dec. 13 — Shoals, 1 p.m.
Dec. 15 — At Vincennes Rivet, 6 p.m.
Dec. 18 — At Shakamak (SWIAC, TRC), 6 p.m.
Dec. 20 — At Tecumseh Tournament, TBA
Jan. 6 — At Eminence (TRC), 6 p.m.
Jan. 15 — Union (SWIAC, TRC), 6 p.m.
Jan. 17 — At Washington Catholic, 1 p.m.
Jan. 19 — At Bloomfield (SWIAC), 6 p.m.
Jan. 24 — At Loogootee, 1 p.m.
Jan. 27 — At Sullivan, 6 p.m.
Jan. 29 — White River Valley (SWIAC), 6 p.m.
Feb. 2 — North Central (TRC), 6 p.m.
Feb. 5 — Barr-Reeve, 6 p.m.
SWIAC — denotes SouthWestern Indiana Athletic Conference game
TRC — denotes Tri-River Conference game
