News From Terre Haute, Indiana

High School

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
February 3, 2012

Sullivan girls focused only on team success

Golden Arrows take 17-3 record into postseason

Andy Amey Tribune-Star

SULLIVAN‘ — If you’re looking for a good omen for the postseason hopes of the Sullivan High School girls basketball team, you might want to consider how the Golden Arrows handled the ceremonies and hoopla surrounding Rhagen Smith’s 1,000th point recently.

There wasn’t any — no ceremony, no hoopla. In fact Smith, her family, her coaches and her teammates weren’t exactly sure when the 1,000th point happened (it was actually Jan. 12) — and that seems perfectly fine with everyone.

The big deal is not individual accomplishments, in other words, as the Arrows prepare for a new tournament road.

“We’re not focused on how many points we get,” said point guard Caelan Jones. “We’re focused on winning.”

Coach Julie Meeks’ team is 17-3 and can wrap up an unbeaten trip through the Western Indiana Conference with a victory tonight at Owen Valley. The Arrows are two free throws and a basket away from an unbeaten season, having lost twice in overtime (Terre Haute North and South Knox) and once by one point (to 2011 Class A state champion Vincennes Rivet).

In previous seasons, the sectional was virtually a WIC rematch for the Golden Arrows. Sullivan is now classified as a Class 2A school instead of being in Class 3A, however, so it will be heading to Bloomfield for tournament play next week — against, ironically, South Knox.

The Golden Arrows have mixed feelings about leaving the familiarity of their former sectional field.

“I’m glad we don’t have to compete against Edgewood [in the sectional], and I’m sure [the Mustangs] feel the same way,” Meeks said about the team that knocked Sullivan out of tournament play a year ago, even though the Arrows had won the WIC meeting. “Sometimes it’s hard to beat a team twice; [conference opponents] know a lot about each other.”

“It was good [playing familiar sectional foes] from a scouting standpoint,” agreed Smith, “but it’s very difficult to beat the same team twice — if you happen to beat them [in the regular season], it fuels their fire more.”

“It could be either way,” said forward Sierra Walters. “It’s good knowing what their weaknesses are, and their strengths … but if you beat them in the [regular] season, they’ll want even more revenge.”

With the 6-foot-2 Smith — who at 1,065 points is about 400 points away from Daria Weitekamp’s career scoring record for Sullivan girls — leading a list of returnees from a 20-win season last winter, expectations were high for the Arrows anyway. Dropping down to Class 2A pushed those expectations up a little higher.

“The competition is still going to be tough,” Smith cautioned. “The 3A schools might have more Division I players, though, so I think we have a better shot [at going a long way] in 2A — as long as we show up to play.”

“[Class 2A] can be an advantage, but if we don’t play to our potential it’s not an advantage,” added Jones.

Drawing South Knox, then, might prove to be a good thing for the Arrows. With Jones running the show, the much improved Walters adding scoring and long-range shooter Jaleigh Gilham and underrated role player Sydney Chapman completing the lineup with the Indiana State-bound Smith, Sullivan has all the pieces, including bench strength led by Aly Bennett, Cobie Harrison and Rachel Whitlock — when the team shows up and plays to its potential.

The players realize that, which is why a little bit of potential revenge might do them good next week.

“We’ve seen the potential we can play at, and it’s discouraging [when we don’t play at that level],” Smith said.

“When everybody plays together, it just flows — the whole, entire game” added Jones. “Then we can relax and coach can relax.”

Whether or not relaxation is on Meeks’ upcoming agenda, the coach is hopeful her team will be ready for its upcoming tests.

“After Christmas we have played better,” she said. “The team is peaking, the players are getting confidence, and more players are scoring.”

“I think we’re hitting our peak,” added Walters. “We’re working as a team, we’re more excited, and people are talking more [on the court].”

“I think we’re ready,” said Smith. “If we keep our heads in the game and focus on our jobs and roles, I’m confident we’ll come out with a win. The chemistry we have is hard to find.”

And maybe the best is yet to come.

“I’m confident in our team,” Jones said, “but I still feel we can do a whole lot better than we have been doing. I don’t feel we’ve peaked yet … but I’m looking forward to winning.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints
High School
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Front page
AP Video
Boy to Rescuers: 'Do You Have a Plan?' Doctors and Devotees Debate Barefoot Running US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely' Blacks Seek to Find Their Own Missing Gerard Butler: the Good, the Bad and the Cannes Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss Serial Stabbings Suspect Guilty of Murder Raw Video: Private Rocket Blasts Off Chicago Police: 90 Arrested in NATO Protests Ex-Rutgers Student Gets 30 Days in Webcam Case Sheriff: DNA Links Suspect to Missing CA Teen New Medicine. Can IPads Help Spot Dementia Risk? At Least 25 Dead in India Train Collision A Few Odd Business Sparks but Europe Gloomy 8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide Raw Video: Man Saved After Niagara Falls Plunge Obama Sees Inspiration in Joplin Graduates Raw Video: Dramatic 270-Foot Waterfall Rescue Houston Museum Unveils $85 Million Dinosaur Hall
NDN Video
Daisy Sizzles in Sexy Swimwear Officers Use Deadly Force on Mountain Lion in Santa Monica Lea Michele Shows Major Skin 8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff Why Cee Lo Thinks 'The Voice' is So Popular Burlesque New Orleans Mike Posner Talks Sneakers: Bamboozle 2012 Howard Stern Makes Kid Cry on AGT Neighbor Feud Results in Dog Poop in Mailbox Tiger's Ex-Wife Bares Her Bod VIDEO | Zoo Chimp Charges Children Child locked in washing machine after father put him there Incubus On Working With Odd Future: Bamboozle 2012 'PLL' First Look Clip! Fired for being 'too hot' Ashley Olsen is a Bikini Babe 'Part of Me' Details 'Bumpy' Marriage, Says Katy Music downloader owes nearly $700K in fines Kardashian Sisters Pose in Lingerie Raw Video: Man Saved After Niagara Falls Plunge
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News