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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.”

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SPT052612NvBB decker.jpg

Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Winner: Northview pitcher T.J. Decker rejoices as his team records the last out in their semi-final win. The Knights defeated Terre Haute North in the first game Monday at Plainfield.

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SPT052612NvBB decker.jpg

Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Winner: Northview pitcher T.J. Decker rejoices as his team records the last out in their semi-final win. The Knights defeated Terre Haute North in the first game Monday at Plainfield.

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