Sullivan and South Vermillion expect uphill battles in the Western Indiana Conference girls basketball race this season.
Two-time defending conference champ Owen Valley is still the clear favorite, but the Golden Arrows and Wildcats are working hard to improve upon their nine combined victories last season.
Veteran coaches Tim Terry, in his 29th season at South Vermillion, and Julie Meeks, in second year of her second stint at Sullivan and 11th year overall, also have to overcome the losses of some key seniors.
“One thing is for sure, the girls are putting in some hard work at practice and that will make us better as the season progresses,” Terry said.
The program will get turned around at Sullivan. Meeks has a .500 record the team’s goal.
“It’s not going to happen overnight, but we’re working hard,” Meeks said.
• • •
• South Vermillion — Six seniors are gone from last year’s squad, leaving plenty of minutes to be won during practice.
Junior guard Allie Milam has the most varsity experience, but “we do not have very many girls with varsity minutes back,” Terry said.
“So we hope to improve with each game, learn from mistakes and not make them again.”
Terry said he expects that his rotation could change as the season progresses.
The Wildcats have a tough week to start the season. After Tuesday’s opener at Seeger, South Vermillion plays Terre Haute North in the Hi-99/Clabber Girl Invitational. Next is the winner or loser of the Owen Valley-Terre Haute South matchup.
“We will be tested big time in the first week,” Terry said. “But I am really looking for this team to be an exciting team to watch.”
• Sullivan — Senior guards Annie Clark and Andrea Jones should start in the backcourt.
“Annie has taken on a leadership role, and she’s probably our best ballhandler,” Meeks said.
Lane Bond and Shelby Lamb giving Sullivan a solid front line. The fifth starter could be Joscelyne Mann, Delaney Gadbury or Kelsey Burr, all sophomores.
“I’ve got a lot of players at about the same level,” Meeks said. “After that, it could be open. I’ve got several players competing with eachother.”
Lamb has the assett of some quality minutes last season.
“She’s really improved a lot,” Meeks said. “She got better and better. She’s really strong in the post for us. The good thing is she’s just a junior. If we can get her the ball, I think we can score some points. I’m looking for her to be a scorer.”
Meeks, who has summoned former North Central girls coach and current Sullivan football coach Trent Holson as an assistant, is hoping her team can climb into the middle of the WIC standings.
“I feel like our program’s going in the right direction,” she said. “We went to team camp, the girls came to open gyms, and every girl in the program is in a weight training class at school.”
“We lost a lot of games by just a few points last year. We could be at least .500 this year.”
Sullivan Schedule
Nov. 20 — at South Vermillion, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 21 — Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 25 — Terre Haute South, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 — West Vigo, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 8 — at Terre Haute North, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13 — Brown County, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 — Shakamak, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 — at Evansville Harrison, 8 p.m.
Dec. 20 — at Bloomfield, 2:30 p.m
Dec. 23 — Edgewood, 6 p.m.
Jan. 8 — South Knox, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 — at Union, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15 — at Vincennes Lincoln, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 — at North Knox, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 22 — Clay City, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 27 — Linton, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 29 — at North Central, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 — at Northview, 6 p.m.
Feb. 3 — at North Daviess, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 — Owen Valley, 6:30 p.m.
S. Vermillion Schedule
Tuesday — at Seeger
Thursday — vs. Terre Haute North in WTHI-99 Clabber Girl Classic
Friday — Clabber Girl Classic
Saturday — Clabber Girl Cassic
Nov. 20 — Sullivan, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 25 — North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 — Attica, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 — West Vigo, 6 p.m.
Dec. 9 — South Putnam, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 — at Owen Valley, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 — at Covington, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 — Riverton Parke, 8 p.m.
Jan. 6 — at Rockville, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15 — at Turkey Run, 8 p.m.
Jan. 17 — at Cloverdale, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 — North Vermillion, 8 p.m.
Jan. 23 — Northview, 6 p.m.
Jan. 27 — Edgweood, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31 — at Brown County, 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 — at Terre Haute North, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 — at Cascade, 7:30 p.m.
S. Vermillion Roster
Player Ht. Yr.
Brittany Evans 5-6 Sr.
Sherry Link 5-4 Sr.
Desiree Thomas 5-11 Sr.
Lauren Samuelson 5-7 Jr.
Allie Milam 5-4 Jr.
Kaci Hixon 5-8 Jr.
Brittany Watts 5-10 Jr.
Jalen Brower 5-8 So.
Kendall Kirby 5-7 Fr.
Gretchen Riggen 5-7 Fr.
Sullivan Roster
Player Ht. Yr.
Annie Clark 5-4 Sr.
Andrea Jones 5-4 Sr.
Shelby Lamb 5-10 Jr.
Alisha Lowery 5-6 Jr.
Kelsey Burr 5-4 So.
Delaney Gadbury 5-4 So.
Jocelyne Mann 5-6 So.
Lane Bond 5-9 So.
Lara Benningfield 5-9 So.
Sierra Walters 5-9 Fr.
High School
Sullivan, South Vermillion girls basketball teams looking up at Owen Valley in Western Indiana Conference
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Vikings break long sectional drought
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