South Vermillion and Sullivan took some lumps in girls high school basketball last season, scuffling around in the lower half of the Western Indiana Conference standings and finishing with identical 4-17 records.
That’s liable to change this winter.
The Wildcats continued to improve last season, even if their record didn’t always show it, and they did so with a lineup sprinkled liberally with freshmen. Those players are a year older and a year wiser now.
“At the end of the year we started to look a little better,” coach Tim Terry said recently. “We’re already ahead of last year.”
Coach Julie Meeks of Sullivan will be using some freshmen — and no seniors — this year, but not from a position of weakness. The Golden Arrow ninth-graders didn’t lose a game last year — few foes of that team could even make it close — and at least a couple of them are varsity-ready.
• South Vermillion — The fact that Allie Milam led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding last season is something of a mixed blessing for Terry’s team.
Yes Milam, a senior and a three-year regular, is one of the best players in the WIC. She’s also 5-foot-4, however, which illustrates one of the main challenges the Wildcats face.
“They’re not very tall, but they’re pretty scrappy,” Terry said of his players. “We’ll have to block out well and play good defense.”
Three other starters return for the Wildcats: 5-6 senior Lauren Samuelson, 5-9 junior Jalen Brower and 5-4 junior Mandy Kelly. Samuelson, another player with plenty of experience, and Kelly, the Wildcats’ best female distance runner, figure to be the starting backcourt with Brower at center.
A third senior, 5-11 Alex McMasters, has returned after not playing basketball a year ago. Her height alone gives her an opportunity to contribute, but otherwise the battle for playing time is among seven sophomores — 5-7 Kenzi Cheesewright, 5-7 Kendall Kirby, 5-6 Gretchen Riggen and 5-7 Brittani Wright up front and 5-0 Ashley Farrington, 5-1 Jessie Lubovich and 5-4 Morgan Samuelson in the backcourt.
It’s a group Terry is happy to go to battle with, which he will tonight in the season opener against Seeger.
“I feel good because of their work ethic,” he concluded.
• Sullivan — The Golden Arrows won nine straight games in a two-day tournament at Robinson, Ill., this summer and wondered afterward why their coach was so excited.
“I told them, ‘You just won nine games. That’s more than we won the last two years,’ ” said Meeks, whose Arrows were also 4-17 during the 2007-2008 season.
Don’t expect Sullivan to stop at four victories this season — or nine either, most likely.
The Golden Arrows have five juniors, all of whom have been starters at one time or another, and a sophomore who came on strong at the end of last season. And they add two freshmen who bring ingredients that complement the other six players perfectly — the ability to score, and the confidence from being consistent winners.
The veterans are 5-4 Joscelyn Mann at guard; 5-5 Delaney Gadberry and 5-5 Kelsey Burr at guard or forward (Gadberry was a double-figure rebounder in Saturday’s scrimmage against Class A powerhouse Vincennes Rivet); and 5-9 Lara Benningfield and 5-8 Lane Bond up front. Bond has an injury issue right now, but the Arrows don’t have a game until they meet South Vermillion on Nov. 19.
The sophomore is 5-6 Sierra Walters, who adds strength and an aggressive mind-set.
Don’t be surprised if the two freshmen lead the team in scoring a few times, however.
Rhagen Smith’s debut is much anticipated, particularly after her brother Rhett stepped in as a freshman star with the Sullivan boys team last winter, and she is 6-1 and strong. Caelan Jones is 5-2 and fearless, ready to run the offense and be the team’s best 3-point shooter — unless Smith is.
“We can win a lot of games this year,” Meeks said after seeing her team scrimmage.
Sullivan schedule
Nov. 19 — South Vermillion (WIC), 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 20 — At Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 24 — At Terre Haute South, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 — At West Vigo (WIC), 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 — North Central, 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 — Terre Haute North, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 — At Brown County (WIC), 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 14 — At Shakamak, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 — Evansville Harrison, 8 p.m.
Dec. 19 — Bloomfield, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 22 — At Edgewood (WIC), 6 p.m.
Dec. 29-30 — At Vincennes Rivet Tournament, TBA
Jan. 7 — At South Knox, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 — Vincennes Lincoln, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 18 — North Knox, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 — At Clay City, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 29 — Northview (WIC), 6 p.m.
Feb. 2 — North Daviess, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 — At Owen Valley (WIC), 6:30 p.m.
WIC — denotes Western Indiana Conference game
Sullivan roster
Player Ht. Yr.
Lara Benningfield 5-9 Jr.
Lane Bond 5-8 Jr.
Kelsey Burr 5-5 Jr.
Delaney Gadberry 5-5 Jr.
Joscelyn Mann 5-4 Jr.
Sierra Walters 5-6 So.
Caelan Jones 5-2 Fr.
Rhagen Smith 6-1 Fr.
S. Vermillion schedule
Today — Seeger, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday — vs. Terre Haute South in HI-99/Terre Haute Savings Bank Classic at West Vigo, 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday — HI-99/Terre Haute Savings Bank Classic at West Vigo, TBA
Nov. 19 — At Sullivan (WIC), 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 24 — At North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 — At Attica, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4 — At West Vigo (WIC), 6 p.m.
Dec. 8 — At South Putnam, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11 — Owen Valley (WIC), 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 — Covington, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 — At Riverton Parke, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 — Rockville, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 — Turkey Run, 8 p.m.
Jan. 16 — Cloverdale, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 — At North Vermillion, 8 p.m.
Jan. 22 — At Northview (WIC), 6 p.m.
Jan. 26 — At Edgewood (WIC), 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 — Brown County (WIC), 3 p.m.
Feb. 2 — Terre Haute North, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 — Cascade, 7:30 p.m.
WIC — denotes Western Indiana Conference game
S. Vermillion roster
Player Ht. Yr.
Alex McMasters 5-11 Sr.
Allie Milam 5-4 Sr.
Lauren Samuelson 5-6 Sr.
Jalen Brower 5-9 Jr.
Mandy Kelly 5-4 Jr.
Kenzi Cheesewright 5-7 So.
Ashley Farrington 5-0 So.
Kendall Kirby 5-7 So.
Jessie Lubovich 5-1 So.
Gretchen Riggen 5-6 So.
Morgan Samuelson 5-4 So.
Brittani Wright 5-7 So.
High School
Girls Prep Basketball Previews: S. Vermillion, Sullivan look to improve in 2009-10
- High School
-
-
South’s Lough to wrestle for state title
The day didn’t start in a promising fashion for Wabash Valley high school wrestlers at the Evansville Semistate in Ford Center on Saturday — but it got better as it went along.
-
TERRE HAUTE NORTH SECTIONAL: Mooresville tops South for fourth straight title
For Terre Haute South High School girls basketball fans, it might sound good that the Braves did not miss a shot in the first four minutes of their Class 4A Terre Haute North Sectional championship game Saturday.
-
BLOOMFIELD SECTIONAL: Sullivan rebounds from tough start for title
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Sullivan struggled mightily in the first half, eerily reminiscent of its eventual elimination in the final seconds of overtime by Edgewood in last year’s Class 3A girls basketball sectional. -
CLAY CITY SECTIONAL: Eels take third straight sectional crown
Clay City stood up to the pressure and to the Shakamak Lakers on Saturday night to win a third straight Class A sectional championship in the Eel Dome.
-
NORTH VERMILLION SECTIONAL: Twenty years in the waiting
The Super Bowl came to a new city. A presidential election was ongoing. And Riverton Parke won a girls basketball sectional.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Rox clinch WRC
Class A No. 8-ranked Rockville knocked off Attica 50-35 in boys high school basketball Saturday afternoon, clinching the Wabash River Conference championship in the process.
-
THN SECTIONAL: Braves to play Mooresville for sectional title tonight
Terre Haute South continued to show what’s new and Terre Haute North unfortunately reverted back to what’s old in Class 4A high school girls basketball sectional action Friday night at North.
-
OWEN VALLEY SECTIONAL: Eagles bring Vikes down to earth
Baby steps. A baby takes that first step and grins, then attempts the second step and tumbles. The West Vigo High School girls took their first step with a victory Tuesday night in the Class 3A basketball sectional at Owen Valley.
-
BLOOMFIELD SECTIONAL: Sullivan jumps to early lead in sectional victory
Sullivan jumped out to a 9-0 lead and were never threatened in a dominant 48-25 win over Eastern Greene in a semifinal game of the Class 2A Bloomfield girls basketball sectional inside Glover Gymnasium on Friday.
-
North Vermillion Sectional: Panthers, Falcons to meet for NV title
Outstanding defense and quality passing landed Riverton Parke in the championship game of the Class A North Vermillion Sectional. The Panthers will have to get through the host school tonight in order to secure the program’s first sectional crown since 1992.
-
South swimmers don’t advance at Finals
Terre Haute South’s trip to the IHSAA girls swimming state finals at the Indiana University Natatorium was a short one Friday night.
-
South runs into talented North Central team
Terre Haute South players and coaches knew when they got off the bus Saturday afternoon that they couldn’t run with the Class 4A No. 3-ranked Indianapolis North Central Panthers.
But they tried anyway. -
BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Duncan’s OT free throws help Marshall down H-P
Jacob Duncan hit four free throws in overtime Friday night as visiting Marshall defeated Hutsonville-Palestine 51-49 in Little Illini Conference action.
-
O'Leary pours in career-high 34 for Terre Haute North
Matt O’Leary poured in a career-high 34 points, 17 in each half, to lead Terre Haute North to a dominant 69-46 home victory over Center Grove in Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference boys high school basketball Saturday afternoon.
-
Davis hits layup in double overtime to lift Terre Haute North at Bloomington North
Playing without their two leading scorers against a team that — most of the time — seemed more determined to win than they did, Terre Haute North's Patriots got a driving layup from Steven Davis with 2.8 seconds left in the second overtime to escape Bloomington North with a 54-52 win in high school basketball Thursday night.
-
Sullivan stays on top of WIC for third straight year
Western Indiana Conference boys basketball teams have been trying to storm the Sullivan castle for three years now. The Golden Arrows have endured nearly every kind of strategy in the effort to breech their wall. West Vigo tried a few more on Thursday in a showdown for the WIC championship.
-
South girls looking for solid performances at swimming state finals
One individual and one relay team, which includes that same individual, will represent Terre Haute South in the IHSAA girls swimming state finals today and possibly Saturday at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Cesinger, Jones each score 24 in Clay City win
Blake Cesinger and Brylan Jones poured in 24 points apiece to lead visiting Clay City over North Central 67-53 in SouthWestern Indiana Athletic Conference boys high school basketball Thursday night.
-
Teutopolis knocks off record-setting Marshall girls in regional championship
Marshall jumped ahead 4-0 only to watch Teutopolis score the next 11 points Thursday in the championship game of the Class 2A Teutopolis Regional.
-
Sullivan wins battle in low post
Sullivan dominated the low block at both ends of the court Wednesday to defeat South Knox 43-30.
-
State wrestling berths won't come easily
If high school wrestlers thought regional competition was tough last weekend, they can expect the competition, as Keegan Michael Key used to say on MADtv, taken to “a whole notha level” on Saturday.
-
South pulls upset
Plainfield’s 16-5 record made the Quakers the team to beat in the Class 4A Terre Haute North Sectional.
-
Vikings break long sectional drought
You’ll have to forgive West Vigo for celebrating just a wee bit prior to the postgame handshake with South Vermillion, but its first victory in a sectional game in 11 years was worthy of celebrating.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: RP rolls past Attica
Riverton Parke jumped to a 20-point halftime lead and easily defeated Attica 59-34 in the Class A North Vermillion girls basketball sectional on Tuesday.
-
They’re the pride of Marshall
With a 24-1 record, coach Kathy Miller’s Marshall team earned the top seed in the Class 2A Teutopolis Regional.
-
Union season more fun with Talpas around
The Union boys basketball team has had its share of fun moments in the past, arguably the most fun being its Class A state runner-up in 2000.
-
Injury bug follows girls into postseason
Who’s healthy is the question at least three of the four teams will be asking tonight when Class 4A girls high school basketball sectional play begins at Terre Haute North.
-
Rockville needs late run to stop West Vigo
It was a game of fits and starts, but host Rockville finally overcame a stiff challenge from visiting West Vigo in a 53-46 victory in boys high basketball action on Saturday.
-
Northview holds off Plainfield
Northview got its sixth victory in boys high school basketball action Saturday night, defeating Plainfield 59-56.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Cloverdale helps Rady to career win No. 714
Brandon Dorman and Joe Fidler combined for 37 points and six 3-pointers Saturday night as visiting Cloverdale defeated Turkey Run 63-45 in boys high school basketball.
- More High School Headlines
-
South’s Lough to wrestle for state title
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Snow Strands Italian Towns
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Today in History for Tuesday, February 12th
Stocks Fall Sharply As Greek Deal Is Held Up
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson after the Pebble Beach Pro Am-2/12
Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital
2012 Grammys: Rihanna
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift
Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag
FUEL TV: Punk Payback Gym tips
Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Absolute Lin-sanity
Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
