2005-2006 Girls Basketball  Top-10 Poll, Week-17 A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith (3-16-2006)

MERRILLVILLE, IN (3-16-2006) - The results of the state finals quietly pushed the IHSAA towards adopting the "multiplier," the class calculation formula that pushes private schools up in class for the state tournament.

In the only three classes that have any private schools, private schools (1A Lafayette Catholic, 2A Heritage Christian and 3A Bishop Luers) went 3-for-3.  I think the multiplier will be adopted, but I don't know how much it would have mattered this year.  Realistically, you could bump the three schools I just mentioned up a class and they might still have won.  I doubt Heritage Christian wins in 3A, but Lafayette Catholic could have won in 2A and Luers, a five-time state champ (they won 3 2A titles), might have won 4A this season.

Locally, the area girls basketball season ended surprisingly after the regional as seven teams in the six-county area (Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton and Starke) we call NW Indiana were eliminated at the regional level.  East Chicago's Dee Dee Jernigan being injured in the Valpo Regional semifinal against Elkhart Memorial stopped the last team that could have reached the finals.

State-wide somebody's got to deal with South Bend Washington's Skyler Diggins who is back for three more years to lead the top-ranked 4A team.  Lead guard Markee Martin will make Luers a power for two more years no matter who plays with her.  Luers' top-3 players were all freshman and sophomores this season.  It is not a stretch to say they are the favorites to repeat in 3A with St. Joseph's graduating lead guard Melissa Lechlitner.

2A Heritage Christian was also all freshman in 2006, but Westview and North Judson cloud HC's multiple title hopes.  The 4 winner in the north in 2007 is not clear now.  It won't be Merrillville or East Chicago, barring move-ins. They graduate most of those starting lineups.  Munster, Gary West Side and Valparaiso all have good chances. 

Overall the game is getting better, but not as quickly as I'd like.  I do not see girls with the skills of boys. I don't mean the athletic ability of boys; girls will never have that.  But girls players simply do not work on their skills year-round and that's why the girls game, as a whole, is not progressing that well.  You see boys' teams with three or four players who can handle the ball in traffic, and you do not see girls teams that have those players.  Too many girls simply cannot dribble.

If I had a girls team I'd call some D-1 schools like Valparaiso University and ask for someone like senior lead guard Lauren Bechtold, who just completed her career.  I'd ask if she wanted to be an assistant coach and I'd put her in charge of teaching every player how to dribble the basketball in traffic, her specialty.  Forget shooting.  Until the majority of basketball players learn how to be strong and quick with the ball, the overall level of play will continue to rest just below sea level.

31st Indiana Girls State Basketball Finals
1A == Lafayette Catholic (18-10) 75, South Central (23-6) 68
2A == Heritage Christian (25-3) 46, Westview (24-4)  34
3A ==  Bishop Luers (24-4) 65, Evansville Memorial (23-5) 54
4A ==  Castle (25-3) 83, (SB) Washington (25-2)  72

12-10 (2005), 18-3 (2004), 15-8 (2003)

MERRILLVILLE -   Merrillville inexplicably fell apart and a 21-9 fourth quarter beat them in the sectional title game against Chesterton.  For some reason, teams with senior transfers have trouble facing teams that have played together all their lives.  Even lesser teams.  This one will stick with Merrillville until next season starts.  Center Brittney Moore (12.1 points, 10.8 rebounds) graduates after four good years and Merrillville will change dramatically. Sharon Houston (14 ppg., 7 rebounds) also can't be replaced.  The Pirates return a lot of speed and will be exciting to watch in 2007.  And sometimes you win the sectional the year after you have your best team.  When you look at the eight DAC teams, Merrillville is still one of the favorites in the Duneland Conference.

The number one 'next year' question for all teams is "Do you have a lead guard?"  Merrillville will return Brittney Cruse (9.6 points, 2.9 steals, 2.4 assists) and she will jump those numbers in a more -up-tempo Merrillville style without the big players up front.

Bottom line:  The Pirates beat sectional champions Chesterton, East Chicago and Andrean.  They beat Valparaiso an unprecedented three times.  They beat Lowell and Michigan City who had school record regular season win totals.  Merrillville was the No.1 team in 2006 and will be a sectional contender for 2007.

2.) 4A East Chicago (18-6)

21-4 (2005), 17-5 (2004), 21-1 (2003)

EAST CHICAGO -  East Chicago won the sectional for the first time in 10 years, beating rival Gary West Side.  They had the region's top offensive player in Dee Dee Jernigan (16.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists) who moved to the point and was dominant.  Jernigan's points went down as her assists went up, as they should at her new position.  EC played the toughest schedule in NW Indiana so their record is misleading.

But here's another team that won't be the same in 2007 with Jernigan, Kelly Watts (15.8 points, 8.3 rebounds) and others graduating. More than one person has said that EC has good players coming up.  So while they'll start slowly next year, who knows what they'll be like in February of 2007?  The No.1 pastime among EC girls next year will be watching results from Purdue where Jernigan should start by mid-season.  You can't rebuild in Sectional one and Munster and West Side have far more coming back next year.  

Bottom line:  EC beat arch-rival Gary West Side twice and won the sectional title.  Only the loss to Merrillville and losing that late lead to Elkhart Memorial made it certain they would be the season's No. 2 team.

3.) 4A Gary West Side (15-7)

23-5 (2005), 22-3 (2004), 20-4 (2003)

GARY -   Gary West Side is another very young team that loses four seniors after losing the sectional to East Chicago.  The Cougars' senior center Erica Simpson (12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds) went scoreless in her final game, something that cannot be totally put off to the EC defense.  West Side becomes a very big team now with 5-10 sophomore Kim Brown and 6-3 soph Ish Shah Terry.

The big graduation loss will be lead guard Jamie Sherls, but West Side always fills that position well.  East Chicago probably won't be an issue next season and the Cougars traditionally own Munster.  West Side could have as many as seven seniors next season so they are very likely to continue wearing teams out with full court pressure.  

Bottom Line: West Side, Munster and Lake Central return as 1-2-3 starting next year.  The Cougars need a top summer from the two big girls to become a state contender but the door is open for West Side and Munster all the way to the semistate.

4.) 4A Valparaiso (13-8)

21-2 (2005), 23-3 (2004), 16-8 (2003)

VALPARAISO -   Valparaiso lost three times to Merrillville (19-3), but they beat sectional champs Plymouth (19-3), Munster (19-5) and Chesterton (16-8), all by 10 points or more.  The Vikings set a high standard in the last two years and were penalized in 2006 in polls because they didn't live up to their own standards.  Senior Erica Humes (17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.9 steals, 118-202, 58.4% 2-FG, 75-93, 80.6%) graduates after a year when she was the true Duneland Conference MVP.  No one meant more to a DAC team than Humes, not even Chesterton's Kelly Pellar.

Bottom line: The junior varsity at Valparaiso had six six-foot players. (Re-read that last sentence again for effect).  They return guard Lauren Prow next year and the team will struggle early.  But by next February, Valpo will be one the sectional favorites and the long range future is very bright.  Valparaiso beat some pretty good teams including West Lafayette and Michigan City.  This was a good season for them.

5.) 4A Munster (18-5)

17-6 (2005), 6-15 (2004), 6-18 (2003)

MUNSTER -   Munster got a bad draw and they fell two points short of East Chicago.  Forget about it.  The future is now or, at least eight months from now.  The Lady Ponies return what could be the top-ranked team in 2007.  They have the second best (to Boone's Cortney Flanigan) lead guard returning in NW Indiana in Lauren Menenghetti (11.7 points, 2.5 steals, 3.8 assists) and an all-area post player in the making in 6-foot-2 Natalie Emro.  With Lowell, EC and Merrillville taking huge graduation hits, only Lake Central and West Side appear to stand between Munster and the 4A regional title.  But the Mustangs have to beat the Munster curse.  What's that?  It lasts one more year.  Munster is the largest, most affluent and highly publicized school in the 16-team Lake Athletic Conference.  That gives them a 'false read' on how good they are.  It always appears as if Munster is going to the regionals or semistate in boys and girls basketball but they almost never do.  The LAC breaks up after 2007 and Munster can play a tougher state-wide schedule which will stoke them up for the playoffs.    
     
Bottom line:  Other than a nonconference win over Merrillville, they didn't get over the top in big games.  But I've said for two years here that 2007 is their year.  East Chicago will be .500.  Merrillville won't be much better.  CP has no point guard and Valpo has no experience.  Munster dominated Highland (3 victories) this season so that rivalry is over for awhile.  It's now or never for Munster.  They should be out practicing as you are reading this.

6.) 4A Chesterton (16-8)

11-11 (2005), 14-8 (2004), 13-10 (2003)

CHESTERTON -   Chesterton pulled the biggest upset of the season, a 50-43 win over DAC champ Merrillville in the 4A Sectional 2 final to complete a three-game sectional sweep.  The Trojans were routed 71-48 by No. 1 South Bend Washington, but who cares?  They won the sectional title and ended with a strong winning record.  The cupboard is almost bare for 2007 though, as six seniors graduate, including all-area forward Kelly Pellar (17.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 steals), who played out of position all year and made it work in the end.  But Chesterton will return one player who played any significant minutes at all in 2006 and she was a freshman.

Bottom line:  The Trojans had a memorable season.  I know nothing about it, but it would be a shock to see old coach Jack Campbell retire on such a high note.  2006 was the type of year you go out on.  The Trojans will rebuild and figure to fall below the .500 mark in 2007.

7.) 4A Michigan City (14-11)

6-15  (2005), 6-16 (2004), 6-14 (2003)

MICHIGAN CITY -   The Wolves did all they could before losing to top-ranked South Bend Washington 78-71 in the South Bend Sectional finals.  Center Emma Tucker had 18 points and 19 rebounds as MC rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to pull within 58-57 with 5:50 to play.  This is not the last meeting of these teams.  Both have lots of underclassmen coming back.  MC has only one senior on the roster.  MC won two sectional games and was 22 of 29 from the line against the No. 1 team.  They didn't really expect to win.  Tucker averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds in the three sectional games against three run-and-gun foes.  This was a fine effort.  MC lost to a Washington team that went to the state finals.

The Wolves need defensive stoppers though.  They can't count on Tucker (12.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 128-242, 2-FGs, 52.8%) to block everyone's shot.  I'd like to see EC work on a half court trap that enabled them to control the pace of the game more than they do.  Still, the 2006 season can be closed as "Mission Accomplished."  Look at the records the last three years and then look at the final record this season.  MC needs to play 50 games this summer to get ready for the 2007 state tournament.  Look at the point guard and TaKenya Nixon (6.2 points, 3.4 assists, 90-183 2-FGs, 49.1%, 84-115 FTs, 73.0%) has what you want.

Bottom line:  2008 will be too late.  Here is the dark horse for 2007.  They have to learn how to play under control because up-tempo won't get them out of the sectional.  They are one team that could mess up the 2007 state tourney by knocking of South Bend Washington early.

8.) 4A Lake Central (11-10)

7-14 (2005), 11-10 (2004), 13-8 (2003)

ST. JOHN -   Here's another team that got blown up by the draw.  They probably beat anybody but LC and Munster in the sectional, but they drew East Chicago and lost  49-44.  Also, here's proof that the regular season doesn't matter.  LC won eight of their last 10 and it didn't matter when EC got a hold of them.  It doesn't matter how close you came if you lost and LC lost to EC twice.  But that's over.  The Indians also were two players short due to injury all season.  They simply didn't say much about it.

Still, LC returns lead guard Allison Aguilera (4.1 assists), post player Jenelle Kapelinski and wing shooter Jenny Britton (11.4 points, 47-116, 40.5% 3s).  You know more players are coming.  The Indians got the winning feeling back this season and they need to play together over the summer to maintain it.

Bottom line:  The future is very bright for LC which rivals Michigan City in returning talent in the DAC.  The 'wild card' here is that long time coach Tom Megyesi has retired.  Hopefully LC won't leave the building to replace him.  I'm talking Keith Hauber, former Wheeler coach Tim Powers or Leslie (Rossa) Iwema.  There's no need for a state-wide coaching search.  LC has what they need right here.  And it's about time schools started hiring women to coach girls.  All things being equal, there's no substitute for a woman.

9.) 3A Andrean (15-8)

9-13 (2005), 7-14 (2004), 15-9 (2003)

MERRILLVILLE -   Andrean came to play in DeMotte, disposing of Roosevelt and host Kankakee Valley for the school's first title in four years.  I have totally forgotten the two blowout losses to Munster because the 59ers took advantage of a weak sectional and took care of business.

Andrean didn't beat Benton Central at the regional, but BC probably had more overall talent, some of which graduates.  The 59ers return all but two players in 2007, and they will again be able to go 8-9 players deep.  6-1 volleyball player Anna Hovanec may come over from the dark side (just kidding but, hey, this is Indiana) and play ball for coach Ken Markfull.  The sectional title of 2006 set the stage for a big run downstate.  Team speed might be an overall weakness.  This team is still a step slow but against the post-season foes, they won't be running.  The standards at Andrean are always very high and a sectional title is nothing more than a stepping stone for them.   The 3A private school bracket is a monster with St. Joseph's and Bishop Luers.  And barring a transfer, (to that school over on the West Side) Gary Roosevelt returns their two top scorers for the 2007 sectional.  Nobody gets post-season trophies beyond the sectional cheaply in Class 3A.   Right now, its a lot easier for 4A schools to get to the state finals.  But it is time for Andrean to return to the Top-10. It could have happened this year.

Bottom line: The 59ers should improve upon the 15-8 record in 2007 and the sectional is still soft looking.  No one but Boone Grove has more coming back than Andrean.  In the final year of the LAC, Andrean battles Munster for the title.  And with graduation finally hitting superpower St. Joseph's somewhat, the 59ers have a realistic chance at the regional title.

10.) 2A North Judson (19-3)

22-4 (2005), 12-9 (2004), 13-8 (2003)

NORTH JUDSON -   Like East Chicago, North Judson was hit by late season injuries that crippled forward Chelsea Howard and point guard Kristen Bolen, the team's best player.  It's all about the lead guard, so it was no surprise the Jays lost to Rensselaer 50-42 in the sectional title game.  Judson has a better team than the Bombers at full strength, but the Jays played Rensselaer twice in a 20-day span and lost both games so they deserved to be out.  Judson beat Benton Central (21-4), Rochester (17-5) twice and the only losses were to 20-game winners.  It's over.  The Jays lose Miranda Howard (17.0 points, 7.2 rebounds) but, as Munster, Andrean and West Side know, you  can replace forwards much easier than you can lead guards.

Bottom line: Kristen Bolen should be healthy and Judson has enough coming back to be a regional contender in 2A again.  She makes all the difference. You can't press the Jays effectively and they spread the floor and don't need a center.  They are geared to go against Westview, which is post-based.  It could be North Judson or Westview vs. Boone Grove or Wheeler for the regional title.

On the outside looking in...

11.) 2A Rensselaer (20-5)

15-7 (2005), 10-11 (2004),   9-12  (2003)

RENSSELAER -   The Bombers got beat by Westview in the 2A Rensselaer regional final but Westview has a better team.  This is a very athletic team with guard Allison Malone and Courtney Meyer returning.  They lose size with Reagan Kanne graduating, but this is still a very good 2A team.  They did beat North Judson twice, but they were not strong at the regional and Rensselaer needs to come north and take on some 3As or 4As.

Bottom line:  You can't laugh off 20 wins.  Rensselaer returns all the guards on the varsity in 2006.  5-10 forward Reagan Kanne (12.8 points, 6.9 rebounds) graduates.  But forwards, again, are easier to replace than guards.  A top season is in the books and another one is coming in 2007.  But North Judson is nearby and the Bombers' style isn't good against Westview, which has so much power in the post.

12.) 2A Boone Grove (14-10)

21-2 (2005), 17-5 (2004),  22-5  (2003)

PORTER TOWNSHIP -  Boone Grove lost to Rensselaer by four, but they won the PCC tournament and won the sectional.  Two wins over arch-rival Wheeler made it a good year.  South Central's Mallory Gorski (26 ppg.) had a wonderful year on offense, but anyone who thought she is a better player than Boone's Cortney Flanigan doesn't understand what's going on out there.  Cortney Flanigan (17.0 points, 5.8 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 steals) was the top player in the Porter County Conference and will be the top returning guard in NW Indiana for 2007.  This team loses just one senior (center Kara Kessler) so they will almost certainly win more than 14 in 2007.  Much of the PCC suffers big time graduation losses in June of 2006, so Boone will be the pre-season favorite next year.

Bottom line:  Boone also needs to play a tougher schedule.  They should play Valparaiso, Rensselaer and Lowell, all natural rivals.  It would help them in the post-season.  But, whatever the schedule, Boone's sophomores will be more effective next year and Flanigan is the lead guard that every team needs.  Boone returns five 5-foot-10 players and that's a monster in the PCC.  2007 will be another year of very high expectations and sometimes Boone does not rise to that challenge.  The 2A NW Indiana regional bracket is very, very strong.

13.) 4A Lowell (15-7)

13-8 (2005), 15-9 (2004), 11-12 (2003)

LOWELL -   Lowell got blasted 56-29 by Gary West Side in a disappointing finish and the Devils again displayed that they have a major post-season problem.  They need the caliber of guards that can beat the Gary West Side full court press and they don't have that type of player.  Even Ashley Cosentino (14.6 points, 4.1 assists, 3.8 steals), an all-LAC player and a four-year varsity player, was overwhelmed by the Side's defensive heat.  There will be a sectional realignment, but not until after 2007.  Look for a breakout season from 5-10 Kim Bell, who does not realize that other players can't stop her.  Lowell needs ball-handlers and that's something that can develop over the summer, but the Devils also need depth.  You can win a lot of games with six players, but you cant beat Gary West Side with six.  Lowell knows that and it is possible they can go eight deep by the 2007 playoffs.

Bottom line:  If guard Kelly Johnson and power forward Gabi Goetz return 100% from injuries, Lowell will start the season No. 3 behind Munster and Andrean in the final year of the Lake Athletic Conference.  But when the playoffs come, the LAC doesn't matter.  It comes down to Gary West Side and that's the big tank coming down the street that everybody else is throwing rocks at.  Something very big has to happen over the summer to change that.

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Revised: March 16, 2006 .