NW Indiana Girls Basketball: 2006-2007 Week-15 Poll

2006-2007 Girls Basketball

Week-15, Final Top-10 Season Poll

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

(03-05-2007)

MICHIGAN CITY, IN - (03-05-2007) - The state finals did not end up in anything that could be called a surprise. All four schools that won northern semistate titles (Washington, Wawasee, Jimtown and Oregon-Davis) are loosely from the South Bend area. That is unprecedented in the history of the state tournament since class basketball began in 1997. Go tell them that the class system ruined the state tournament. But only two were winners and that was the way it should have been.

In 1A, Oregon-Davis (26-3) went from 14-8 last year to 27-3. How? The lead guard Gabrielle (Gabi) Minix, a freshman back court player who played on teams that were undefeated for three years in grade school. Minix (12.8 ppg.) and her sophomore sister Aubrey (12.3 ppg.) team with sisters Amber (12.8 ppg.) and Angela Boyle (10.9 ppg.) led the Bobcat girls to a 20-point lead before winning 54-46 over Wood Memorial. That happened despite 6-foot-5 Kaiti Cochran's 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 blocked shots for the southern Indiana school. O-D should be just as strong in the next two seasons if Gabi Minix improves. They return three starters. Hey, 'Region Rumble', give them a call.

In 2A, Jimtown has had a good run, but they were in over their heads against defending champion Heritage Christian, falling behind 12-0 and losing 62-44. HC played 15 Class 4A schools and had beaten almost all of them. HC (26-3), has lost only one game in regulation time, 60-59 to Carmel. Jimtown (24-3) didn't play anywhere near the schedule HC did and it showed from the opening tip. HC has only two seniors and only two juniors. Their best player is 5-10 soph Kelly Faris, one of three sophomores who average in double figures. Obviously, if they stay healthy, Heritage Christian could win four titles in a row. Hey Region Rumble. Give them a call, too.

In 3A, Wawasee derailed top-ranked St. Joseph's last week, but they needed St. Joe's size against Brebuef Jesuit (23-6) and 6-foot-6 TaShia Phillips, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and nine blocked shots in a 51-43 win. These two played earlier and Brebuef won 58-53. Brebuef won two titles in three years. Why? The schedule. Brebuef has played 11 Class 4A schools and was 8-3 against them. If you are serious about winning the state title, you must play a state finals schedule, meaning you seek out the best teams during the regular season. Teams that can beat you. You will go broke betting against the Indianapolis private schools.

In 4A, South Bend Washington (28-1) earned the state title and they got it with an 84-64 win over Columbus East. Guard Skyler Diggens made just 10 of 28 shots but scored 27. Senior Ashley Varner scored 22. East (24-3) was rattled by Washington's speed and made 25 turnovers. I know I'm annoying you with this, but South Bend Washington played 14 teams that won 19 or more games, not counting Plymouth (14-7), Portage (16-9) and Penn (16-7). Aside from all their top players, that is why they won. Washington loses all of its front court, but with Diggens and back court mate Emily Phillips (8.9 ppg.) returning, this will still be a Top-10 team next season. Plus, there were no freshmen on the varsity at Washington and it's hard to believe they don't have anyone who can play in the entire freshman or 8th grade class.

Until the IHSAA decides to move the boys basketball season back one week to avoid the girls state finals, boys sectional final games will be postponed due to girls teams in the finals. There is no need for that conflict. Just push the boys season back one week. As I said before, that also helps the 'gender equity' problem involving prime time (read: Friday night) game availability.

NUMBERS GAME: South Bend St. Joseph's guard Sydney Smallbone hit 246 three-point baskets in four years on the varsity. Michigan City's Emma Tucker finished her career with 990 points. South Bend Washington has won a state best 27 games in a row, but they may not go any further if they don't do better than 28 of 49 from the foul line like they did in last week's 84-76 win over Anderson. Jimtown senior Stephanie Wagner was 20-of-21 from the foul line as Jimtown beat Oak Hill 71-62 despite 24 points from Oak Hill freshman Courtney Moses. Oak Hill was called for 30 personal fouls in that game and they had six players foul out. There are only 30 graduating senior girls basketball players in the entire eight-team Porter County Conference. Oregon Davis has 240 students and they could become the first school to win boys and girls state basketball titles in the same season. It is amazing no one has jumped on that story yet. TaShia Phillips of Brebuef shoots 72% from the floor and she was 12-of-15 in the state finals' win over Wawasee.

1. (4A) Michigan City (22-2)
2006 (14-11), 2005 (6-15), 2004 (6-16)

MICHIGAN CITY: Michigan City didn't lose to anybody but the new Class 4A state champions, South Bend Washington (28-1). With Takenya Nixon (15.1 ppg) and Bianca McGee (11.5 ppg.) at guard along with wing shooter Katie Knoll (9.3 ppg.), MC returns as the DAC favorite next season. I think that Nixon should be a Junior all-star and the Wolves should be very happy with this year. Actually, they should be more pleased than some 4A teams that reached the regional. The next best thing to winning the state title is to have your only losses be to the state champ and MC did that.

2. (3A) ANDREAN (18-5)
2006 (15-8), 2005 (9-13), 2004 (7-14)

MERRILLVILLE: Andrean may not yet have recovered from losing to Gary Roosevelt in the sectional, but they did win the LAC and the Wheeler Holiday Tournament. The Niners can rebuild around 5-foot-9 Kelleigh McCrea and a deep sophomore class. If the schedule remains the same (and I don't know if it will), look for the 59ers to slip back next season against a tough slate. I like the 59ers to challenge for the sectional title next year and be very solid in two seasons. It's going to be a long time before they can be pleased with the 2007 season, though. I'm of the opinion that if you didn't win your sectional, it wasn't a great season.

3. (4A) Gary West Side (16-6)
2006 (16-7), 2005 (23-5), 2004 (22-3)

GARY: West Side returns at least eight varsity players and they will still face little competition from Gary Roosevelt (who they routed by 30) and East Chicago. The Cougars can probably find some new local foes with the breakup of the LAC. Getting kicked out of the post-season will prove good for them. This is another program that's at a point where they always shoot for the state finals and since they didn't win anything this season, they probably are not at all happy with the year. West Side should play Merrillville and I don't know why they don't. Both teams would benefit. The Cougar record is good, but this team got grilled like a sirloin steak in big games. They didn't even win the Gary Holiday Tournament. Come on. Big schools have to aspire to more than 16-6 and no titles.

4. (4A) MERRILLVILLE (16-6)
2006 (19-3), 2005 (12-10), 2004 (12-8)

MERRILLVILLE: Merrillville probably would like a shot at South Bend Washington and that would be a nice match up. It'll have to wait until 2008. As I said last week, they should be traveling the state and playing teams like Washington and Heritage Christian or Marian Catholic of Chicago Heights, Illinois. Merrillville shouldn't have lost to Portage, but they have quick guard Britney Cruse back for another year and they'll be one of the DAC favorites. Overlooked on a team that didn't shoot very well was 5-foot-6 sophomore Tierra Turner who shot 51% (79-152, 51.9%) from the floor. If the DAC stays with the double round-robin, the Pirates probably face three games next year against Portage and Crown Point. I would assume that 16-6 with no titles isn't any good for them, either. It shouldn't be.

5. (4A) Munster (16-7)
2006 (19-5), 2005 (17-6), 2004 (6-15)

MUNSTER: Munster defeated Penn, Griffith and Highland and built up a 16-7 record, so they might feel this was a good season. Everybody can't win titles and their record was solid. Get that out of your head. Again, I just always feel that if you did not win any league championship or any tournaments of any kind, your year was not a success. The Lady Ponies lose some very good athletes off this team and they'll need a slower pace in 2008. Munster's schedule can change dramatically next year once they are free of the LAC chains. They seem certain to fall behind arch-rival Highland next year, but I didn't see their freshman.

6. (3A) Hammond (17-9)
2006 (15-8), 2005 (15-7), 2004 (8-12)

HAMMOND: I don't know what happened to coach Jon Haas. He resigned after being reportedly harassed by parents. The whole story probably has not come out. Hammond returns perimeter players Zena Nasiloski and Sancheon White, so they should be back in the regional next season and they need an experienced coach. This is not a time for a newcomer as the future is now. I've always said that schools need to hire a woman and former player to coach girls. But with that said, schools should also take the parents who attacked Jon aside and kick their kids off the team. You cannot have violent acts like that for any reason and the kids and their parents should all pay the price. Here's a team where a good coach can come in and take this team to sectional regional titles immediately.

7. (4A) Portage (16-9)
2006 (4-17), 2005 (4-17), 2004 (10-12)

PORTAGE: Portage is probably most pleased with their season than anybody in NW Indiana. That's a problem. I'm not excited about their 16-9 record, but they did win playoff games. Everyone likes a comeback story, but Portage was third in the DAC and they'll start next season third in the DAC. Portage needs a real point guard. They don't control the pace the way a real good team needs to and they turn the ball over too much. With that said, junior stars Lisa Samplawski (16.1 ppg., 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.3 steals) and Gloria Hernandez (12.4 ppg., 8.0 rebounds) need only to stay healthy to make the Indians a DAC title contender. They must guard against being 'satisfied' with a 12-8 regular season. I thought Portage did all they possibly could have from the middle of the season on. But Michigan City was 22-2 so put it in perspective. Most teen athletes are incapable of being the 'favorite' because coaches always poor mouth and play the 'underdog card'. Portage's biggest challenge next season will be mental.

8. (4A) Highland (20-6)
2006 (12-11), 2005 (19-5), 2004 (17-6)

HIGHLAND: The Trojans got hit hard in a 64-37 loss to Portage, but they return the core of their team including lead guard Lizzie Stapke and center Jordan Bedella to start play in the new Northwest Crossroads Conference (NWCC) in 2008, where they will be pre-season favorites. Highland will probably not win 20 next season because they will play a tougher non-conference schedule. I'm very uneasy about teams that get spanked big time in the season finale spending the off season bragging about how well the season went. Hopefully, Highland won't do that. Portage just crushed Highland and that's the only thing they should remember from this season.

9. (2A) Wheeler (18-4)
2006 (14-7), 2005 (18-8), 2004 (19-4)

UNION TOWNSHIP: Wheeler was smoked hard 72-40 by North Montgomery (21-3) in a game that probably showed the softness of their schedule. The Bearcats panicked when they fell behind and could not recover. I know the won-loss record here is very good but a team that trails by 40 at the regional cannot be happy with the season. In their defense, I think Wheeler did what they wanted to do with a sweep of Boone Grove and a sectional title. There was a let down after that. Becca Bruszewski is a favorite to make the Indiana all-star team in June. I think the Bearcats are very pleased with beating Boone twice and winning the sectional. I think they'd take that every year. I also think Wheeler will be above .500 next year, too.

10. (2A) BOONE GROVE (18-5)
2006 (14-11), 2005 (21-2), 2004 (17-5)

PORTER TOWNSHIP: Boone returns a ton of talents with 6-foot forwards Emily Strilich and Kelly Dobson and guards Jessica Fauser and Jessica Dowdy. They have plenty of bench for the 2008 playoffs and they will probably still be the sectional favorite. Boone may double the turnovers next year, but they will be more of a post-based team and they will find success. Cortney Flanigan (20.2 ppg.) is a favorite to play for the Indiana all-stars in June. But I repeat. With Rochester and Rensselaer going up from 2A to 3A, Boone Grove may be changing sectionals. River Forest and Hebron come up from 1A to 2A, but Sectional 35 definitely loses Rochester and Rensselaer. One thing is certain here. There will be change.

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN...

(1A) Oregon-Davis (26-3)
2006 (14-8), 2005 (11-11), 2004 (7-14)

HAMLET: Oregon-Davis won the 1A state title with a 54-46 win over Wood Memorial last Saturday. Why aren't they in the top-10? Because they could not beat Boone Grove or Wheeler and the other eight teams in this poll are well beyond them. I like the way O-D attacks on offense and they have good speed for 1A. I don't think they are a great rebounding team, but with the lead guard Gabi Minix for three more seasons, they have a big run ahead of them. They must think big and schedule some 4A teams. O-D cannot be afraid of that.
They should call Boone Grove and Hammond.

(2A) North Judson (18-5)
2006 (19-3), 2005 (22-4), 2004 (12-9)

NORTH JUDSON: Judson returns Chelsea Howard (11.1 ppg.) and Whitney Trusty (13.0 ppg.) next year, but they lose all-state guard Kristen Bolen, their key player, and a top-40 player state wide. Like Boone, Judson will be OK, but they will lose the control of the game that an elite lead guard gives you. The Jays, one of just three teams to beat Oregon-Davis, will face a new playoff world next year because longtime sectional rivals Rensselaer and Rochester go up to 3A. North Judson, Hebron and Boone Grove could be in the same sectional. There will definitely be major changes in the sectional landscape for 2008.