Hope springs eternal for all girls high school basketball teams prior to their season openers. Expectations of winning seasons, winning a conference title, postseason glory …
The four Wabash River Conference teams — Turkey Run, Rockville, Riverton Parke and North Vermillion — in the Tribune-Star coverage area this year have all set lofty goals.
A talented influx of incoming freshmen at three of the schools is the basis for this optimism. The fourth is a two-time sectional champion, stacked with juniors from a strong freshmen contingent from two years ago.
These four teams have not had winning seasons the same year, according to historical data on the IHSAA Web site dating back to the 2000-01 season.
The closest occurrence was three winning teams in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons, the exception being Riverton Parke. The Panthers did come close with eight and nine wins in those two seasons, respectively.
Those teams featured some excellent talent. To wit, Brigett Branson (Turkey Run, later played at Indiana University), Allison and Ashley Hughes (North Vermillion, later played at St. Joseph’s), Courtney Veach and Jessica Stewart (Rockville, later played at Evansville).
Since then, there have been three years of just one winning team, three years of no winning teams. Last year, there were two — Turkey Run and North Vermillion — with the Rox finishing at the .500 mark.
What has everyone excited this season? Previews of the four WRC teams follow:
• Turkey Run — Turkey Run has enjoyed success the past two years with a 40-9 record (21-3 in 2008-09), two sectional titles and two regional appearances. Its success was buoyed by a strong freshman class two years ago, now a strong junior class — all starters this year.
But while the Warriors have a young yet veteran group returning, they will miss the leadership of graduated senior Meaghan Doss, who has taken her point guard skills to Vincennes University.
“It will be hard to replace someone like [Doss]. We’ll struggle with that aspect of the team … she was the heart and soul of our team,” admitted coach Sam Karr.
Karr’s all-junior lineup consists of 5-foot-9 Chelsea Francis, 5-10 Adrianne Francis, 5-7 Jordan Hunt, 5-6 Chelsea Newnum and 5-6 Shelby Davies. Chelsea Francis, one of a set of triplets, will take over Doss’s role at point guard.
“[Point guard] will be new for her. By the end of the year we will have her where we’ll like her to be,” Karr said.
Adrianne Francis, a second triplet, will be in the post again, but will start the season on the injured list with a broken hand. Karr said her best case scenario is missing two weeks.
Hunt was the first player off the bench last year and will be a shooting guard this year. She scored 16 points in a regional game. Newnum is currently “about 90-percent” recovered from a ACL injury suffered during last year’s sectional.
Davies is the team’s defensive stopper. “You can’t teach what she does … gets all the loose balls,” says Karr.
A top reserve is 5-10 senior Logan Cox. Cox will replace Adrianne Francis in the starting lineup until her return.
Another key reserve is 5-8 senior Tiffany Marshall. She started as a freshman, led the team in scoring a few times as a sophomore, but sat out last year with an ACL injury.
Providing depth from last year’s junior varsity team is 5-7 junior Meaghan Francis, the third triplet. “A different player thus far … could start against certain teams. She will get a lot on minutes,” Karr said. Also in the mix is 5-7 sophomore Hayley Cox.
“Replacing the point guard position is the biggest thing we’re addressing,” Karr said. “We’ll be a little different this year, not as much up and down the floor. We will be a better rebounding team and better in our half-court offense.”
• Rockville — The success of the Rox (10-10 last year) falls to a pair of returning juniors, both committed to play at the Division I level in sports other than basketball.
Beth Mahurin will play volleyball at Indiana State, while Lindsey Greene will play softball at Illinois State. “Basketball is the second thing for them, but they are very good,” stated Rox coach Jeff McCoy.
Mahurin and Greene were all-WRC performers last year. Mahurin, a 6-2 center, ranked in the top 10 in Indiana in blocks and in the top 25 in rebounding. The 5-7 Greene will handle the point guard duties.
The other three starters will be 5-7 Hillary Woodard, 5-5 sophomore Jerica Carrington and one those aforementioned freshmen, 5-8 Raeann Sutherlin. “Plays like a sophomore or junior,” McCoy said of Sutherlin.
Providing depth is 5-5 sophomore Megan Rice, 5-6 sophomore Chelsea Tucker, 5-7 freshman Jennifer Lee, 5-9 senior — the only senior — Scheyanna White and 5-8 sophomore Kelsey Sandusky.
“Our incoming freshman class is talented and adds depth to the team,” McCoy noted.
“This will be a sectional to watch. We could have a state contender down the line. We also toughened up our schedule, adding Terre Haute South and Clinton Prairie. South was gracious enough to play us at home (Nov. 19) this year.”
• North Vermillion — After a Class A state championship (2001-02) and a runner-up finish (2002-03), the Falcons fell on hard times. How hard? Winning just eight games over the next four years.
But coach Terry Naylor began his tenure at NV last year and led them to a respectable 14-9 record. He’s excited normally, but is pleased to have four returning starters along with the addition of at least seven quality freshmen players.
The excitement and buzz around the Falcons’ team is the freshmen group, having gone undefeated the past two years. But more on them later.
The four returning starters are 5-11 senior Hillary Lively, junior Bethany Chew, 5-8 junior Kylee West and 5-8 senior Taylor Poynter. Another returnee is 5-8 sophomore Casey West.
The top trio of these freshmen include 5-6 Taylor Turchi, 5-10 Darby Martin and 5-6 Mikayla Kinneer.
“We should be better defensively, a lot quicker,” Naylor predicted. “Offensively, we’ll be a lot more of a threat outside. Our girls really compete with each other, which makes for good practices.
“Our goals are simple. Win conference, win sectional. It’s not out of our reach to win the conference. Turkey Run is good, but we match up pretty well. I look for a successful year. It’s not unattainable to win 17, 18 games.”
• Riverton Parke — “We have a good mix of young and old … five freshmen and only two seniors,” said coach Josh Douglass. The Panthers were 3-17 last year.
When asked the heights of his players, Douglass stated he has three players listed at 5-10 and one at 5-3. “The rest are all 5-6 or 5-7, all pretty much the same height,” he laughed.
Returnees with the most experience include 5-10 senior Makenzie Haltom, 5-10 senior Hannah Byers, 5-10 sophomore Elizabeth Dickey, sophomore Sheldan Falls and junior Chelsea Dailey.
Two expected to fill the point guard spot are sophomore Sarah Burnham and freshman Sarah Dickey.
Other contributors are expected to be senior foreign exchange student Fran Buehler, juniors Randi Cookus and Ashley Kinne and sophomores Taylor Mannisinne and Fawn Mitchell.
The Panthers also have a strong freshman class, including the aforementioned Sarah Dickey, Paige Yando, Mackenzie Pollard, 5-3 Kori Wood and Ashley Carvin.
“We have tons of guards,” Douglass said. “We were happy to compete last year. This year we expect to win. We should battle for sectional. We think we can win 10, 12, maybe 14 games. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
North Vermillion Wildcats
Tuesday — Southmont, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Saturday — Banks of Wabash Tournament, TBA
Nov. 20 — Westville (Ill.), 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 24 — Turkey Run*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 — Seeger*, 8 p.m.
Dec. 10 — Fountain Central, 8 p.m.
Dec. 15 — North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 — Attica, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 30 — South Putnam Tournament, TBA
Jan. 7 — Riverton Parke*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9 — Fountain Central*, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 12 — Attica*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 — West Vigo, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 — South Vermillion, 8 p.m.
Jan. 21 — Covington*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 —at Georgetown-Ridgefarm (Ill.), 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 — Rockville*, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 — North Central (Farmersburg), 6 p.m.
*Wabash River Conference game
Riverton Parke Panthers
Friday, Saturday — Banks of Wabash Tournament, TBA
Nov. 17 — Northview, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 20 — Rockville*, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 24 — Covington*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 — Cloverdale, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 3 — Clay City, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 — Shakamak, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 — Seeger*, 8 p.m.
Dec. 15 — Turkey Run*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 — South Vermillion, 8 p.m.
Jan. 7 — North Vermillion*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 11 — Union (Dugger), 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 — South Putnam, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 16 — Southmont, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 — Covington*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 22 — North Central (Farmersburg), 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 26 — West Vigo, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 28 — Fountain Central*, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 — Attica*, 7:30 p.m.
*Wabash River Conference game
Rockville Rox
Tuesday — South Putnam, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Saturday — Banks of Wabash Tournament, TBA
Nov. 19 — Terre Haute South, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 20 — Riverton Parke*, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 23 — Clay City, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 — Southmont, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 3 — North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 — Clinton Prairie, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 — Indianapolis Metropolitan, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 — Seeger*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 — Greencastle, 8 p.m.
Jan. 5 — South Vermillion, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 7 — Turkey Run*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 — Covington*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 — Cloverdale, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 — Fountain Central*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 25 — Attica*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 28 — North Central (Farmersburg), 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 — North Vermillion*, 7:30 p.m.
*Wabash River Conference game
Turkey Run Warriors
Tuesday — Terre Haute North, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Saturday — Banks of Wabash Tournament, TBA
Nov. 17 — Crawfordsville, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 24 — North Vermillion*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 3 — Southmont, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 8 — Attica*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 — Riverton Parke*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 — Covington*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29-30 — Vincennes Rivet Tournament, TBA
Jan. 7 — Rockville*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9 — North Central (Farmersburg), 11:30 am,
Jan. 14 — South Vermillion, 8 p.m.
Jan. 16 — Fountain Central*, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 — Benton Central, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 — Seeger*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23 — Greencastle, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 26 — North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 — North Montgomery, 7:30 p.m.
*Wabash River Conference game
High School
Girls Prep Basketball Previews: Wabash River Conference teams have lofty goals heading into season
- High School
-
-
It’s a rivalry-filled Memorial Day for sectional contenders
Longtime rivalries figure to determine high school baseball sectional champions throughout the Wabash Valley today, with semifinal and final games scheduled at four sites and a stand-alone championship game at a fifth.
-
South tops Oldenburg to win tennis semistate
There was no evidence of rally caps, rally towels and certainly no rally squirrels, but Terre Haute South’s No. 1 singles player Maddie Kesler needed a rally in the worst way.
-
New route leads to same place for South girls tennis
For so many years, the road to the IHSAA girls tennis state finals for local teams ran through Vincennes (regional) and Jasper (semistate). In other words, south and more south.
This year, their trip was re-routed through Greencastle (regional) and Center Grove (semistate). So it cnahged to east and more east. -
PREP ROUNDUP: Robinson tops Greenville in sectional semifinal
Robinson jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, then cruised to a convincing 12-3 victory over Greenville in a IHSA Class 2A Vandalia sectional semifinal game on Thursday.
Ashlyn Sullivan was 2 for 3 with a double, home run and three RBIs to lead the winning Maroons. -
West Vigo baseball falls in sectional to Owen Valley
West Vigo overcame the odds to win 20 high school baseball games this season with a lineup that often included four freshmen and few seniors.
-
South Vermillion softball's late-season surge comes to end
A late-season surge by South Vermillion wasn’t quite enough to halt a high school softball sectional winning streak by the host team Thursday night, as Edgewood got on top early and held on for a 5-2 win in the championship game of the Class 3A Edgewood Sectional.
The loss was just the second in the last 12 games for the Wildcats. The Mustangs, however, haven’t lost a sectional softball game for eight years in a row. -
South takes second, North third at boys track regional
Terre Haute South finished second and Terre Haute North third on Thursday night at the boys track and field regional at Evansville Central, with 11 individuals and three relay teams qualifying for the state finals June 2.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: White River Valley baseball holds off Eminence
Three Eminence errors in the top of the sixth inning finally enabled White River Valley to score in high school baseball Thursday night, and the Wolverines went on to a 5-0 win in Class A Shakamak Sectional action.
-
Feeling cursed: South bitten in sectional final again
Terre Haute South softball is not even close to being as cursed as a certain northside baseball team in Chicago, but it might just seem like it.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Mundy, Porter, Knight individual regional winners
Chanli Mundy and Keirra Porter of Terre Haute North were among the individual winners in the IHSAA Evansville Central girls track and field regional that ended late Tuesday night.
-
Thornton puts away South Vermillion
Cody Thornton’s three-run blast over the left-field fence was the finishing touch to West Vigo’s 10-3 victory over South Vermillion in the opening game of the Class 3A Greencastle Sectional on Wednesday.
-
Lakers triumph, go home for regional
Shakamak took Class A Clay City Sectional honors in high school softball for the first time since 2009 Wednesday, defeating White River Valley 9-5 in the title tilt.
-
North Vermillion avenges losses
North Vermillion avenged two high school softball losses during the regular season to win the Class A Riverton Parke Sectional championship Wednesday with a 3-2 triumph over the host Panthers.
-
Pats, Knights will meet in sectional
Adler Ingalsbe pooh-poohed his lack of velocity Wednesday night, yet the Terre Haute North pitcher was throwing BBs in the first game compared to Mooresville’s Brandon Topie in the nightcap.
-
South outbattles Northview to reach sectional final
Even the best of high school softball pitchers can’t keep all the batters in the middle of Terre Haute South’s lineup down.
-
Panthers get 20th win in sectional
Riverton Parke will face North Vermillion in the Class A softball sectional championship at Riverton Parke today, with action commencing at 6 p.m.
-
Plainfield Sectional all about parity
Considering Terre Haute South has won five consecutive Class 4A sectional titles in high school baseball, naming the Braves as favorites to capture the 2012 Class 4A Plainfield Sectional would not seem far-fetched.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: North Vermillion in title game
Casey West had a triple and three runs scored to help North Vermillion softball advance to the championship game of the Class A Riverton Parke Sectional on Tuesday.
-
North takes second in track regional
Terre Haute North finished second with 74 points, six behind team champion Evansville Reitz, during the Evansville Central girls track and field regional that ended late Tuesday night.
-
Wildcats advance to sectional softball final; West Vigo falls
Patience, patience.
South Vermillion exhibited great patience, being very selective at the plate and it paid off royally in the fourth inning. -
South, Crawfordsville win in regional tennis semis
Terre Haute South outlasted Fountain Central 4-1 in the first round of the girls high school tennis regional Tuesday, advancing the Braves into today’s championship match against Crawfordsville.
-
Braves, Knights open with wins
It was an excellent night for starting softball pitchers to help their own cause Monday night in the Class 4A Northview Sectional.
-
Lough dreamt about McMillan
A two-time state finalist in wrestling and a two-time all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference football player and wrestler, Tsali Lough of Terre Haute South was named the male recipient of the 2012 McMillan Award on Monday night at South’s Senior Awards Night.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Panthers cruise in sectional opener
Sarah Burnham pitched a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in high school softball Monday evening as host Riverton Parke defeated defending champion Rockville 10-0 in opening-round action at the Class A Riverton Parke Sectional.
-
Notable tradition bodes well for Riverton Parke
Located practically in the shadow of a high school that sets one state standard in track and field, Riverton Parke has a tendency to be overlooked in that sport.
-
Vikings get 18th win over Shakamak
West Vigo began a busy week of high school baseball Monday on a winning note, defeating Shakamak 6-3.
-
Greencastle new site for girls tennis regional
The starting times might prove to be a bone of contention, but otherwise coaches Bill Blankenbaker and Emily Goff are thrilled their respective girls high school tennis teams will begin play today at the Greencastle Regional.
-
Northview sectional groups 3 20-win teams
Three teams with 20-plus victories will attempt to claim the Class 4A Northview Sectional crown for high school softball this week, and most of the other Wabash Valley sectional fields also appear to be wide open.
-
Terre Haute South softball takes Riverton Parke tournament
Terre Haute South is going into the Class 4A Sectional at Northview on Monday with momentum, confidence, a deep bench and a healthier pitching staff than it has had in quite a while.
-
North baseball splits doubleheader with Indy North Central
Some of their incentive could have been sapped a couple of nights earlier, when Center Grove achieved an eight-inning victory over Warren Central to clinch the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball championship.
- More High School Headlines
-
It’s a rivalry-filled Memorial Day for sectional contenders
Beryl Threatens Rain, Winds on Southeast Coast
Raw Video: National Mall Concert Shut Down
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Astronauts Enter World's 1st Private Supply Ship
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Today in History
Shell Readies Arctic Drill Ship
Tropical Storm Beryl Strengthens, Nears US Coast
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Dragon Arrives at Space Station in Historic 1st
Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China
Beyonce Entertains the First Family
Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7
Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges
Has Snooki Named Her Baby?
Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend
Inspiration for the class of 2012
Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing
Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3"
80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump
JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini
Sliders on the Grill
Cruise ship crunch
Backstage With Beyonce
Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad
Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest
Jenny McCarthy's New Man
Tyler's Classic Coleslaw
Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
