Published: November 10, 2008 10:51 pm            

Talented Turkey Run leads pack of Wabash River Conference girls basketball teams

With all his players returning except for one starter lost to graduation, you might surmise that second-year Turkey Run girls high school basketball coach Sam Karr has high expectations for his team this year.

And you’d be right.

Then why would Karr feel his team might not own quite as glittery a won-lost record after this season? Because of one of the tougher Class A schedules around, it may not muster up to last year’s 19-6 mark. But Karr is certain his team will reap the benefits when February rolls around.

The Warriors won their first sectional title in eight years last season, defeating Riverton Parke, Attica and Rockville. In the regional, they eliminated Lafayette Central Catholic, but fell to Southern Wells in the championship game.

“We return just about everybody,” Karr said. Their only loss from last year’s squad is 6-foot-2 center Sarah Patton, “who will be hard to replace.” Last year’s team was “very, very young,” starting three freshmen.

Headlining their four returning starters is 5-2 senior point guard Meghan Doss, who has committed to play college basketball at Vincennes University. Other returning starters are a trio of sophomores, 5-7 Chelsea Newnum, 5-9 Chelsea Francis and 5-11 Adrianne Francis.

A frontrunner for the fifth starting slot is 5-7 sophomore Shelby Davies. Karr says of Davies, “she played a lot of JV last year, had a good summer and is one of our best defenders.”

Karr is blessed with one of the deepest benches in Class A, with six other players expected to make contributions this season.

Those include 5-9 junior Tiffany Marshall, 5-7 sophomore Jordan Hunt, 5-10 junior Logan Cox, 5-8 sophomore Megan Francis — the Francis girls are triplets — 5-7 junior Amy Newnum and 5-11 freshman Holly Hopkins.

Marshall will be strong presence in the post and started as a freshman, but tore her ACL this summer and won’t be full-speed until after Christmas.

As for the schedule, the Warriors will face 11 teams above them in classification, including seven 3A-level teams. One of those 3A teams will be Griffith, the Warriors meeting them in the Region Rumble event on New Year’s Day.

Oh yes, Turkey Run also faces 4A school Terre Haute North tonight to open the regular season.

“Our schedule is as tough as it’s ever been … it will be hard to match our record of last year,” Karr admitted. “But it will hopefully make us tougher to beat at tournament time.”

• • •

The following are capsules of the three remaining Wabash River Conference teams in the Wabash Valley:

• North Vermillion — The Falcons’ fortunes have been either feast or famine the past few years. After a magnificent five-year run of 92-9, including a Class A state title, they were 3-58 the next three years — including a streak of 32 straight losses that was snapped early last season.

“Last year was a rebuilding year,” stated second-year North Vermillion coach Terry Naylor. His first Falcons’ team was 5-16. “We didn’t quite reach our goals [last year], but the girls have a year of me under their belt.

“We have a lot of varsity experience back, but are still young,” Naylor said. “We will start two sophomores and a freshman. We could easily be a .500 ballcub if we limit our turnovers and improve our shot selection.”

Three regular starters from a year ago return, 5-10 junior Hillary Lively, 5-6 senior Derryn Axtell and 5-6 sophomore Bethany Chew. Occasional starters last season returning are 5-7 sophomore Kylee West and 5-7 junior Taylor Poynter. Also expected to contribute are 5-7 senior Emily Yoho and 5-8 freshman Casey West (no relation to Kylee).

“That’s probably it,” Naylor said of his prospects for just a seven-player rotation. “We might have one of our guards up from JV to play sparingly. We’re low in numbers … if one of our girls gets hurt, we won’t be able to play a JV schedule.”

While the numbers are down at present, Naylor is looking ahead to the next few years with the influx of a talented eighth-grade team. Naylor said of his future Falcons players, “they haven’t been beat in four years … all 10 of the girls can play.”

But as for this season, Naylor confidently predicted, “We should have a winning season, definitely not below .500. Last year we didn’t know how to win but the girls finally figured it out. This year we expect to win.”

• Rockville — Jeff McCoy, a 1998 graduate of Rockville, is the first-year head coach for the Rox this season. Describing his coaching background, he laughed “I’ve coached all over Parke County and Vermillion County, both girls and boys.”

But seriously, he added, “I’ve inherited a real nice core from [previous coach] Jim Foster. I have some very smart players … ranked No. 2, 4 and 8 in their class. It’s like having a high school version of Rose-Hulman.”

Returnees include 5-9 senior Kieran McMullen, 5-5 senior Hilary Vukovits, 6-3 sophomore Beth Mahurin, 5-10 senior Morgan Burgess and 5-7 sophomore Lindsey Greene.

McMullen is their leading returning scorer at 13 points per game and is “expected to be a team leader”. Vukovits will be the point guard, while Mahurin and Burgess will provide the inside presence.

“Beth is a lot stronger this year,” McCoy said. “Volleyball is her favorite sport, but she has a lot of athleticism and we hope that transfers to basketball. She can be a force in the post.”

Off the bench will likely be 5-10 junior Sheyana White, who transferred from Riverton Parke last year. McCoy says White is “our most improved player.” Also expected to contribute is 5-6 junior Alise Harper.

The Rox were 7-15 last season, their last winning season was in 2001-02. “It’s been six years … I think its reasonable for us to have a winning season,” McCoy said. “It’s been 27 years since we were a WRC champion and won a sectional.”

• Riverton Parke — New coach Josh Douglass has been at Riverton Parke the past five years, serving as the girls junior varsity coach last season. He inherits a program that was 4-17 a year ago, with no winning seasons in eight years.

“We lost our two leading scorers from last year … so we need to find some scoring,” Douglass said on Friday, a day after hosting a controlled scrimmage with South Vermillion. Gone due to graduation are Amy Wheeler and Chelsy Riggen.

“But we return four juniors with a lot of varsity experience,” Douglass mentioned. “We have a couple of sophomores that contributed a lot of minutes … one big, one small. We also have a couple of freshmen looking at some playing time. They are young, raw, but not bad.”

The four juniors are 5-6 point guard Wendy Mathas, 5-6 Rosa Gossett, 5-10 Mackenzie Haltom and 5-10 Hannah Byers.

Mathas, Gossett and Haltom have all been on the varsity for three years. Mathas has been point guard all three years, and along with Gossett, are expected to pick up the scoring slack. Haltom and Byers are being relied on for defense and rebounding.

Other contributors are 5-6 sophomore Chelsea Dailey, 5-6 sophomore Andrea Jenkinson and 5-8 senior Sara Julian. Two freshmen are 5-7 Sheldan Falls and 5-11 Elizabeth Dickey.

Dailey “is one of the strongest girls on the team … has a knack for going after the ball,” Falls “started in the scrimmage and held her own. She’s a quick guard,” and Dickey “is injured right now. Opponents will have to shoot over her. Could be outstanding with some added muscle. A very good outside shooter,” Douglass noted.

As for goals this season, Douglass says, “I would love for us to above .500. Turkey Run and Fountain Central are the two teams to go after in the WRC.”



WRC SCHEDULES

Rockville Rox

Today — South Putnam, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday and Saturday — Banks of Wabash Tournament at Turkey Run, TBA

Nov. 17 — at North Central, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 21 — Riverton Parke*, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 24 — at Clay City, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 — at Southmont, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — at North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 6 — at Shiloh, 1:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — Shakamak, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 16 — at Seeger*, 8 p.m.

Dec. 18 — Greencastle, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 6 — South Vermillion, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 — Turkey Run*, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 — Georgetown-Ridgefarm, 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 — at Covington*, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 — at Cloverdale, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Fountain Central*, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — at Attica*, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 3 — at North Vermillion*, 7:30 p.m.

* Wabash River Conference game



Riverton Parke

Panthers

Thursday and Saturday — Banks of Wabash Tournament at Turkey Run, TBA

Nov. 18 — Northview, 6 p.m.

Nov. 21 — at Rockville*, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 — at Covington*, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 — Cloverdale, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — Clay City, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 — at Shakamak, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — Seeger*, 8 p.m.

Dec. 16 — at Turkey Run*, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 19 — at South Vermillion, 8 p.m.

Dec. 27 — Loogootee Classic, TBA

Jan. 8 — at North Vermillion*, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 14 — South Putnam, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 — Southmont, 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 — North Central, 6 p.m.

Jan. 27 — at West Vigo, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — Fountain Central*, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 3 — Attica*, 7:30 p.m.

* Wabash River Conference game



Turkey Run Warriors

Today — Terre Haute North, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday and Saturday — Banks of Wabash Tournament, TBA

Nov. 18 — at Crawfordsville, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 — North Vermillion*, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — Southmont, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 6 — Clay City, 1:30 p.m.

Dec. 9 — at Attica*, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 16 — Riverton Parke*, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — at Covington*, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 1 — vs. Griffith in Region Rumble, 4 p.m.

Jan. 8 — at Rockville*, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 — at North Central, 11:30 a.m.

Jan. 15 — South Vermillion, 8 p.m.

Jan. 17 — at Fountain Central*, 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 — at Benton Central, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Seeger*, 8 p.m.

Jan. 24 — Greencastle, 2:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 — at North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 — at North Montgomery, 7:30 p.m.

* Wabash River Conference game



North Vermillion Falcons

Today — Southmont, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday and Saturday — Banks of Wabash Tournament, TBA

Nov. 21 — Westville, 8 p.m.

Nov. 22 — at West Vigo, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 — at Turkey Run*, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 — at Seeger*, 8 p.m.

Dec. 11 — at Fountain Central*, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 16 — North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — Attica*, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 3 — South Putnam Tournament, TBA

Jan. 8 — Riverton Parke*, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 — Fountain Central, 2:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 — at Attica, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 — at South Vermillion, 8 p.m.

Jan. 22 — at Covington, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 — Georgetown-Ridgefarm, 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 3 — Rockville*, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 7 — North Central, 6 p.m.

* Wabash River Conference game



WRC ROSTERS

Turkey Run roster

Player Ht. Yr.

Meghan Doss 5-2 Sr.

Chelsea Newnum 5-7 So.

Chelsea Francis 5-9 So.

Adrianne Francis 5-11 So.

Tiffany Marshall 5-9 Jr.

Shelby Davies 5-7 So.

Jordan Hunt 5-7 So.

Logan Cox 5-10 Jr.

Megan Francis 5-8 So.

Amy Newnum 5-7 Jr.

Holly Hopkins 5-11 Fr.



Rockville roster

Player Ht. Yr.

Kieran McMullen 5-9 Sr.

Hilary Vukovits 5-5 Sr.

Beth Mahurin 6-3 So.

Morgan Burgess 5-10 Sr.

Lindsey Greene 5-7 So.

Sheyana White 5-10 Jr.

Alise Harper 5-6 Jr.



Riverton Parke

roster

Player Ht. Yr.

Wendy Mathas 5-6 Jr.

Rosa Gossett 5-6 Jr.

Mackenzie Haltom 5-10 Jr.

Hannah Byers 5-10 Jr.

Chelsea Dailey 5-6 So.

Andrea Jenkinson 5-6 So.

Sara Julian 5-8 Sr.

Sheldan Falls 5-7 Fr.

Elizabeth Dickey 5-11 Fr.



North Vermillion roster

Player Ht. Yr.

Hillary Lively 5-10 Jr.

Derryn Axtell 5-6 Sr.

Bethany Chew 5-6 So.

Kylee West 5-7 So.

Emily Yoho 5-7 Sr.

Taylor Poynter 5-7 Jr.

Casey West 5-8 Fr.

        

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