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November 11, 2008

West Vigo girls hoops mixes trio of senior veterans with talented group of newcomes

By Andy Amey

When your girls high school basketball team has won just four games the past three seasons, a lot of optimism about the upcoming campaign might not be appropriate.

Coach Ryan Easton of West Vigo realizes this and has been low-key as his team’s season opener against Northview approaches on Thursday night at the HI-99 Clabber Girl Classic on the Vikings’ court. But there are at least three positive signs he and his team can look to.

There’s experience, including a trio of seniors who will finish this season having earned a combined 10 varsity letters.

There’s size, with five players capable of holding their own around the basket — four of those 5-foot-9 or taller.

The most important thing, however, might be something that isn’t guaranteed to help right away — although it could.

In his incoming freshman class, at least two of whom will be on the varsity right away, Easton has a group of players that has experienced success, finishing as Vigo County runners-up as eighth graders last year.

Start with the experienced players. The three senior veterans are 5-5 Sarah Klotz, one of the quicker players in the Wabash Valley, and twins Brittany and Breanna Marrs. Brittany, at 5-7, could play either forward or guard while Breanna, at 5-5, might be the team’s best 3-point shooter. Klotz is on the varsity for a fourth time, the twins for the third time each.

Two other letterwinners are 5-7 junior Brittany Edmondson, a strong inside player who missed most of last season with pneumonia, and 5-10 junior Marianne Umphries, who has shown a lot of promise in the past.

Brittney Hall, a 5-6 senior, is a transfer from North Putnam, while 5-9 junior Karen Beal and 5-10 sophomore Chelsey Norton are up from the junior varsity. The two freshmen who will get varsity time right away are 5-5 Brooklyn Waters, the leading scorer among the eighth-graders last year, and 5-10 Erin Barton.

“Five of our top 10 [players] are newcomers to the varsity level at West Vigo,” cautioned Easton, who had four very good athletes graduate from last year’s 2-18 team. “But I’ve been pleased with the senior leadership throughout the summer and the fall, and each year gets better as far as the players buying into the program.”

Future Vikings haven’t been discouraged by the team’s recent struggles either.

“We have 31 girls out, which is a big help as far as practice is concerned,” Easton said. “The attitude and the outlook [among the players] is very positive, and expectations are high.”

The starting lineup for the Northview game is still up for grabs, Easton indicated recently, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see all 10 Vikings appear in many games.

“There’s a lot of competition for playing time this year,” he said, “and that’s a luxury we haven’t always had.”

The Vikings are even beefing up their schedule to some extent, including a Christmas-break trip to the Lady Cub Classic at Franklin. They’ll meet Richmond, sometimes a Class 4A power, in the opener there. “The two opposite ends of I-70,” Easton noted.

“We’re excited about the possibilities,” the coach concluded. “A lot depends on how quickly the younger kids get acclimated — it’s a big change from JV or eighth grade to the varsity. And a key to our success is understanding that competing is different than just playing hard.”



West Vigo Roster

Player Ht. Yr.

Brittney Hall 5-6 Sr.

Sarah Klotz 5-5 Sr.

Breanna Marrs 5-5 Sr.

Brittany Marrs 5-7 Sr.

Karen Beal 5-9 Jr.

Brittany Edmondson 5-7 Jr.

Marianne Umphries 5-10 Jr.

Chelsey Norton 5-10 So.

Erin Barton 5-10 Fr.

Brooklyn Waters 5-5 Fr.



When your girls high school basketball team has won just four games the past three seasons, a lot of optimism about the upcoming campaign might not be appropriate.

Coach Ryan Easton of West Vigo realizes this and has been low-key as his team’s season opener against Northview approaches on Thursday night at the HI-99 Clabber Girl Classic on the Vikings’ court. But there are at least three positive signs he and his team can look to.

There’s experience, including a trio of seniors who will finish this season having earned a combined 10 varsity letters.

There’s size, with five players capable of holding their own around the basket — four of those 5-foot-9 or taller.

The most important thing, however, might be something that isn’t guaranteed to help right away — although it could.

In his incoming freshman class, at least two of whom will be on the varsity right away, Easton has a group of players that has experienced success, finishing as Vigo County runners-up as eighth graders last year.

Start with the experienced players. The three senior veterans are 5-5 Sarah Klotz, one of the quicker players in the Wabash Valley, and twins Brittany and Breanna Marrs. Brittany, at 5-7, could play either forward or guard while Breanna, at 5-5, might be the team’s best 3-point shooter. Klotz is on the varsity for a fourth time, the twins for the third time each.

Two other letterwinners are 5-7 junior Brittany Edmondson, a strong inside player who missed most of last season with pneumonia, and 5-10 junior Marianne Umphries, who has shown a lot of promise in the past.

Brittney Hall, a 5-6 senior, is a transfer from North Putnam, while 5-9 junior Karen Beal and 5-10 sophomore Chelsey Norton are up from the junior varsity. The two freshmen who will get varsity time right away are 5-5 Brooklyn Waters, the leading scorer among the eighth-graders last year, and 5-10 Erin Barton.

“Five of our top 10 [players] are newcomers to the varsity level at West Vigo,” cautioned Easton, who had four very good athletes graduate from last year’s 2-18 team. “But I’ve been pleased with the senior leadership throughout the summer and the fall, and each year gets better as far as the players buying into the program.”

Future Vikings haven’t been discouraged by the team’s recent struggles either.



West Vigo Schedule

Thursday — Northview in HI-99 Clabber Girl Classic, 7:30 p.m.

Friday or Saturday — HI-99 Clabber Girl Classic second round, 7:30 p.m. or 11:30 a.m.

Nov. 18 — White River Valley, 6 p.m.

Nov. 22 — North Vermillion, 6 p.m.

Nov. 25 — At South Putnam, 6 p.m.

Dec. 2 — At Sullivan (WIC), 6 p.m.

Dec. 5 — At South Vermillion (WIC), 6 p.m.

Dec. 6 — At Owen Valley (WIC), 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 — At Northview (WIC), 6 p.m.

Dec. 18 — Terre Haute North, 6 p.m.

Dec. 20 — Brown County (WIC), 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 27 — At Franklin Tournament, TBA

Jan. 8 — At Shakamak, 6 p.m.

Jan. 12 — Cloverdale, 6 p.m.

Jan. 17 — Marshall, Ill., 1 p.m.

Jan. 27 — Riverton Parke, 6 p.m.

Jan. 30 — Edgewood (WIC), 6 p.m.

Feb. 3 — At Terre Haute South, 6 p.m.

Feb. 5 — Covington, 6 p.m.

WIC — Western Indiana Conference game

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