 |
2004-2005 Girls Basketball Poll:Week Eighteen (Final) A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith(3-16-2005) |
|
|
2004-2005 Girls Basketball Poll:Week Eighteen (Final) A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith(3-16-2005) |
|
CROWN
POINT, IN - (3-16-2005)
North Judson and Gary West Side made it close but
both lost to superior teams in the state title games. The four champions (North
Central, St. Joseph's Shenandoah and Tri-Central) were the four teams that
should have won. You can make an argument that they
were the four teams that were favored in the pre-season.
Tri-Central has a realistic shot of becoming Indiana's first four-time Class 1A champion. It is proving clearly easier to repeat as champ in the class sports era than it was in the old one-class tournament. North Central, with a returning point guard and center (6-5 Amber Harris) has a real shot at a third consecutive title. In northwest Indiana, lots of teams will go through changes as several teams say goodbye to senior laden teams.
Basketball, as a whole, still suffers with the double round-robin in the DAC and the clumsy, 16-team Lake Athletic Conference (LAC). Few teams dare to challenge the Indianapolis or South Bend powers and the overall level of the NW Indiana game fails to improve because of that.
1.) 4A East Chicago (22-4)
EAST CHICAGO - East Chicago was not ready to play three games in five days against winning teams. Looking back, tough physical games against Lowell and Highland may have contributed to an eight-point fourth quarter with the season on the line.
Shareya Patrick (12.2 ppg.) was not an all-area, but she averaged almost 13 points per game in the playoffs and EC will have problems replacing her and senior guard Kandi Rogers.
But the Cardinals return 5-10 core players Dee Dee Jernigan (18.2 ppg.) and Kelly Watts (11.8 ppg., 8.5 rebounds) for their senior seasons. EC was just 14 of 24 from the line on the final two nights of the sectional and they couldn't score more than 45 points all three nights.
There was nothing wrong with East Chicago's schedule, but they might seek out teams like South Bend Washington and Elkhart Memorial, who seem to be perennial contenders out of the Michiana area to play during the regular season. But EC's problem has not been far-away teams. It's always been West Side. Truthfully, West Side's advancement to the state finals has been the only salvation for this season.
Of the top five in this poll, EC is the only team that returns their best player next season. The Cardinals defeated No. 1 St. Joe, who won the Class 3A state title and 3A No. 4 Evansville Memorial made it to their regional final.
Their three other losses (all close) were to 4A No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern, Illinois Class AA No. 2 Whitney Young (25-2) and Class AA No. 8 Sandburg (27-3). Young and Sandburg advanced to the state finals in Illinois. I know that West Side went to the state finals but they only split with EC and I believe that even some of the West Side people would admit that the Cardinals were the better team.
But this isn't a great team yet. Next year (2006) there are no excuses. Remember, in 2007, EC goes back to being an average team.
2.) 4A Gary West Side (23-5)
GARY The Cougars lost to 6-5 Amber Harris and North Central 55-54 in the state finals. The game was not quite that close but West Side presented themselves well in their first state title game appearance. It had to happen in 2005 because the Cougars lose seven seniors including all-NW Indiana lead guard Isabell Rhenwrick (10.5 points, 3.7 assists) and all NW Indiana wing guard Ashley Gates (10.8 ppg.) forward. Michelle Hamblin (6.6 ppg.) did not have an all-area year but she will be missed.
The team resumes in 2006 with 6-0 Erica Simpson (8.5 points), but chances of the Cougars returning to the state finals are slim. Three of the teams they beat along with way (EC, Kokomo, SB Washington) have more coming back than West Side does. But West Side appeared to have good talent at the freshman and sophomore level.
And
people will want to play for West Side. Because if
you reached the state finals, you had a great year.
3.) 4A Valparaiso (21-2)
VALPARAISO Valpo goes through major changes before the 2006 playoffs replacing all-stater Cassie Kerns (16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds) and 6-2 Lindsey Humes. Guard-Forward Erica Humes (12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists) returns to lead Valpo along with 5-10 G/F Lauren Prow (4.6 rebounds, 29-33 Fts) who will emerge as Valpo's next star player. There will be no great drop off in the won-loss record. The Vikings return to being a normal-sized team, but the 2005 team lost because of lack of depth and that may not be a problem in 2006.
Valparaiso allowed just 33 points a game but they lacked bench help and that cost them in the two losses (Plymouth and SB Washington). It is naοve to feel that Valpo had no talent at the soph and freshman levels this season. They will bring physically strong players to the varsity where they will contribute immediately.
Valpo's patient style does not require them to have great players to win and the top returning players are guards, which is exactly where you want to start a team.
CROWN POINT Crown Point went about as far as they should have but not as far as they could have.
The Lady Bulldogs got 23 points from star guard Cassie Pruzin (14.4 points, 5.4 assists, 5.3 steals), but they were beaten on Ashley Glaser's three-point final second basket 45-42 in the final of the Chesterton 4A Sectional.
Here's another team that had a good, but not great year. They did not win anything. For the fourth year in a row, Valparaiso eliminated CP at the sectional level. The Bulldogs lose three senior starters including Pruzin, who has at least a 50-50 shot (at this writing) of being an Indiana all-star, even though the northern part of the state is guard-heavy. CP also loses veteran guard Kaitlyn Sertich (9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds) and 5-10 forward Jill Weiand (8.0 points, 5.3 rebounds) so the team will look much different in 2006.
What is not immediately obvious about the Lady Bulldogs is that, in 2006, they will return eight players who played significant minutes on the varsity this season, not counting 5-10 sophomore Katie Kvachkoff, who missed 75% of the season with an injury. If they find some extra players will ball-handling skills (and there is talk of an above-average lead guard coming from the 8th grade class), CP could duplicate their 2005 record next season and the door opens for them with Valparaiso losing the big front line.
PORTER TOWNSHIP Boone may have felt pressure on their home floor, losing 55-49 to Wheeler after beating Bishop Noll 63-43. It's hard to say what happened to a team of six seniors which led 15-6 in the early going on their home floor in the sectional championship game.
Star guard Karissa Walter (16.7 ppg., 7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 5.9 steals) suffered a significant left hand injury in the Noll game and it had to affect her against Wheeler although, to their credit, Boone did not use that as an excuse.
But Boone also had soph guard Cortney Flanigan (10.6 ppg.) and they should have survived. Boone lost in the sectional title game to Wheeler for the second year in a row. Flanigan made the all-PCC list for the second year in a row while Walter made the Top-40 workout.
The Wolves will be strong again in 2006 as Flanigan takes a lead role and 5-9 Kara Kessler mans the post. But want to see Andrean and Winamac on this schedule. The program has advanced to a point where nonconference games with schools like River Forest, Lake Station and North Newton must be replaced .
Boone must recall that sometimes after your heralded season, it's much easier to advance in the state tournament.
There is no 2A team right now that is significantly better than Boone Grove all the way through the regional finals and, other than possibly North Judson's Kristen Bolen, there is no 2A guard better than Flanigan in the seven-county NW Indiana area.
6.) 4A Merrillville (12-10)
MERRILLVILLE Merrillville lucked out against Chesterton with Melissa Borom's last second three-point shot forcing overtime in a 50-45 win over short-handed Chesterton. The Pirates were then eliminated 49-44 by rival Crown Point in the Chesterton Sectional semifinals. The Pirates were amazingly inconsistent, as was evidenced in a 34-point loss to CP six weeks after a 27-point win. Forget about this year.
Merrillville returns as the DAC favorite in 2006 because 6-3 Brittney Moore (10.6 points, 11.6 rebounds) has a senior year at center coming; 5-3 point guard Brittney Cruse, who has three more seasons, made a solid debut late in the year; and 6-2 forward Sharon Houston transfers in from Lew Wallace, although she may not be able to play until mid-season. Merrillville graduates six seniors, but the Pirates return seven players who played significant varsity minutes in 2005. How much do they want to win the sectional title in 2006? They should already be working toward that goal.
If
Merrillville doesn't win the sectional title in 2006,
it might be awhile before they seriously contend again.
7.) 4A Highland (19-5)
HIGHLAND The Trojans went as far as they were supposed to go. Like Crown Point, they were supposed to win 75% of their games and play the top team at the sectional.
Highland does not have the talent and does not play the schedule that East Chicago does and that will continue to be a problem. Freshman Lizzie Stapke scored 14 in a 55-43 sectional quarterfinal win over Lake Central. Tina Traczyk scored 13 against East Chicago in the season-ending 43-35 loss.
Highland was 34 of 52 (65.3%) from the foul line in the playoffs which isn't great but it's a lot better than the 50% foul shooting rate they sunk to during the regular season. That's the biggest test for the Trojans in the off-season. They are a bad shooting team and, even with underrated 6-1 center Katie Kane (6.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks), Traczyk and Stapke coming back, they can't win outside the LAC shooting as poorly as they do.
Here's another team, like Boone, that needs a schedule upgrade. The LAC champion has never won anything in the post-season because the LAC is not a strong league. Highland can't play 2As and 3As during the season and expect to beat top 4As in the playoffs. It isn't going to happen.
Andrean plays state champ St. Josephs and Bishop Luers and Highland doesn't? Call Brebeuf. Call Marian Catholic. With the DAC's double round robin sure to be altered before next year, call Crown Point. But call the 'Shot doctor' first.
Basketball is an offensive game. You cannot win without shooters and scorers.
Highland has to
fight being satisfied with going 17-5 or 18-4 every year and losing at the
sectional or that's all they'll do.
8.) 4A Munster (16-7)
MUNSTER Munster wasn't ready for Gary West Side, which smoked them 52-35. Munster was 18 of 24 from the foul line, but scored just eight field goals against Gary West Side's full court presses. The Lady Ponies should not forget about that game. Blowout defeats are the best motivator. It doesn't hurt that West Side continued to the state finals. Two of Munster's losses are to a state finalist and that should be considered a badge of honor.
Munster improved from six wins in 2004 to 16 in 2005. It was a good, but not great year. They didn't win anything. Like Merrillville, Munster should return as their league favorite in 2006. They have more depth, better guards and better shooting than Highland. But they must not make beating Highland a goal. The state finals is the goal. Nobody should argue that point. Don't talk about what a great job you've done.
Winning is only the 'base' goal. Reaching the finals is a team goal. There are two types of programs in Indiana. Ones that have reached the state finals and ones that have not. You don't want to be second class.
Munster will have to improve every week between now and next year to beat East Chicago. The Mustangs are closer than Highland is.
9.) 2A North Judson (22-4)
NORTH JUDSON The streets of tiny North Judson are littered with signs of local businesses saying how proud they are of the Lady Jays. Almost 20 years of success was rewarded with a state finals game. Judson lost to a better team in Shenandoah and that's the way it should be. The talk about West Side was justified, but Judson is even more heart-warming because they have a limited talent pool and a very small team.
Guard Kristen Bolen is NW Indiana's next emerging top player and freshman forward Miranda Howard may grow.
Lake and Porter County teams should schedule games at North Judson to find out what playing on the road in Indiana basketball is really like. There is no home court like North Judson in all of Lake County.
10.) 1A South Central (18-7)
UNION MILLS - I don't' know how they did it, but the Satellites won the regional title before losing by two to state champ Tri-Central.
It will be very hard for them to return to that point, especially considering they won three games in the last few seconds and another when they rallied from 16 down in the second half. The 40-foot bank shot that beat Argos 37-36 in the sectional was the shining symbol of great good fortune for the up-tempo SC girls.
1000-point scorer guard Mallory Gorski (19.0 points, 5.0 assists, 5.0 steals, 5.0 rebounds) and 6-0 center Anna Kammrath (16.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.2 steals) had great playoff runs and SC returns all five starters including unknown three-point shooter Katie Konieczny (34-93, 36.5%)
The problem is, they now become the target, not only of all 1A teams in a six county area but in the Porter County Conference (PCC) where their name is being circled on 2006 schedules. I don't think South Central was one of the top four 1A teams in the state in 2005 and neither do they, I would suspect.
To return a three-year starting guard and a three-year starting center in 1A is very big. SC starts next season at the media's PCC favorite but they are not visually better than anyone in the rest of the league except LaCrosse.
Boone and Washington Township made runs to the semistate in 2003 and have never been able to get back there.
Crown Point carries the reputation of four state finals trips and now can't get out of the sectional with a court order. South Central must ramp up their schedule with 3As and 4As to gear up for the 2006 playoffs. Why don't they play North Judson. SC was lucky not to have to face Canterbury and state scoring powerhouse Megan King (26 ppg.) this season, but that luck may not hold next year.
SC is a very entertaining team and, for years, South Central has wanted attention for their athletic teams. Be careful what you wish for. In 2006, they'll be hunted like a fox with a diamond necklace.
Keep an eye on...
2A Wheeler ( 17-7)
UNION TOWNSHIP - Wheeler went as far as they possibly could have and should have, losing to state finalist North Judson in the Rensselaer 2A Regional title game.
Forwards Becca Bruszewski and Ali Roper were among the Bearcats who wore down in the 2-games-in-one-day scenario. That's not a surprise. it's happened to far better teams than Wheeler. The Bearcats' schedule, which included 4As Munster, Highland and Chesterton, is good but it probably needs to be altered a little. Wheeler might want to schedule North Judson and Winamac during the regular season because that's the team they'll always see down the line. This team overachieved in 2005 and they'll have to do it again without Roper in 2006.
Wheeler must realize that Becca Bruszewski (17.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists) plays out of position. She is a 6-2 player in a league of 5-9 centers and to have her on the perimeter is a lot like hiring Chris Rock to do the Oscars. You simply cannot continue to allow a talent to be in a position where they can't do what they are best suited for. Every coach that plays Wheeler (without exception) privately says they would have ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWER for Bruszewski if she stayed within 10 feet of the basket. But Notre Dame will win a big game before Wheeler will get to the state finals with Bruszewski on the perimeter. That dog won't hunt.
There's plenty of time but Bishop Noll and Hanover will be on the rise next year. Nobody cares who wins the LAC Blue Division. Wheeler should win the 2A sectional next season and with a big summer, the BearCats could reach the state finals. But they were the underdog the last two years. Wheeler now finds out how hard it is to be favored to win.
LOWELL- I don't know how these girls did it, either.
Coach Patti McCormack, who should be a runaway for coach of the year, won 13 games with basically five players. The Devils almost never went to the bench even when they played three games in 24 hours in December. Lowell beat sectional champion Hammond and vastly physically superior Merrillville. On top of that, only center Rachel Thiel (7.8 points, 6.7 rebounds) was the only Lowell starter taller than 5-6. Even East Chicago did not blow them out.
Come on. The team played on an artificial floor all season while the school is being renovated.
The Devils are the unseen force returning in 2006. The 5-10 Thiel returns at center along with the LAC's top three-point shooter in 5-5 Julie Swisher (38-98, 38.7%) and the league's top foul shooter in guard Kelly Johnson (109-133, 81.9%). Johnson (11.4 pg., 3.2 steals) was the LAC's best guard in 2005 and she returns with left-handed partner Ashley Cosentino (10.0 ppg.). No one made more big plays in close games than Johnson and no one had more close games (5 OT games) than Lowell. The fact that no one mentioned the 5-5 three-sport starter Kelly Johnson on any all-area teams, indicates that few saw Lowell.
The Devils need depth for 2006. If 5-6 wing Whitney Magley can return from back surgery and if 5-11 Kim Bell and 5-10 Gabby Goetz can become front court contributors, Lowell can challenge Munster and Highland for the LAC title.
But the core of four complimentary players (Thiel, Swisher, Johnson and Cosentino) will guarantee a winning season in 2006. Only East Chicago, Munster and South Central have more coming back than Lowell does.