Published: November 10, 2008 10:53 pm         

Northview girls basketball focused on improving defense, ready to run on offense

Team and structure may be the two most important words for Lu Anne Anderson’s first Northview High School girls basketball team.

Anderson won’t know until the HI-99 Clabber Girl Classic on Thursday if the Knights can play by those words; Northview plays host West Vigo in the first round.

Anderson has more than a decade of experience as a head volleyball coach. She served as interim basketball coach at Clay City one season. Last year Anderson was assistant to Chad Smith. But this year, the Knights are her team. So how are the Knights going to play?

First, the Knights will focus more on defense. On offense, the Knights will run a more structured offense with set plays. But with the roster loaded with guards, the key word is “run.”

“We will push the ball up the court [on offense]. We’re guard-heavy.” Anderson said.

Northview returns four regulars from an 8-12 team whose the starting lineup changed several times. Seniors Spring and Stormi Raines, Kirstin Kimball and Shelby Colson are the most experienced returnees. Erica Lee is the only other senior.

The 5-foot-8 Spring Raines led the Knights last year at 17 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Stormi Raines (5-7) averaged 8.7 points and 3.3 boards. The 6-foot Kimball averaged 1.7 points and 3.3 rebounds and the 5-9 Colson scored 2.6 points and yanked down 4.2 rebounds

Anderson has Spring and Stormi Raines, Colson and 5-6 junior Emily Phillips penciled into the starting lineup. The fifth spot will be determined by what the Knights need to match up with an opponent.

Anderson has been emphasizing team because last year the Knights stood and watched when Spring Raines got the ball.

“We’ve been preaching to the girls, we don’t care who scores what. We would like to get three people [scoring] in double figures,” Anderson said.

The Knights showed more balanced scoring in their scrimmage with Linton.

“Every girl except one scored. We had a little more balance than we usually do, so we hope that continues,” Anderson said.

The Knights may be short on size, but they are not completely without it. In addition to the 6-foot Kimball, sophomore Chelsey Sampson, who played some varsity as a freshman, stands 6-2.

Rebounding could be a problem for the Knights in the preseason scrimmage. That became a priority after the scrimmage and will be tested again in the Classic.

Several Knights clocked varsity minutes last year. Anderson will count on juniors Kelsey Searing, Carlee Bell and Ali Sharton and sophomore Lauren Webster this season.

Besides finding a third or fourth scorer to go with the Raines, the key to Northview’s season will be defense. Anderson wants to change defenses “on the fly” after baskets to catch opponents off-guard.

“We want to focus more on defense this year and getting the girls in the proper position so they feel more comfortable,” Anderson said.

After the Clabber Girl Classic, the Knights’ first home game is Nov. 20 with Mooresville. Northview opens Western Indiana Conference play at Brown County on Dec. 6.



Northview schedule

Thursday — At West Vigo in HI-99 Clabber Girl Classic, 7:30 p.m.

Friday or Saturday — Clabber Girl Classic second round at West Vigo, 7:30 p.m. or 11:30 a.m.

Nov. 20 — Mooresville, 6 p.m.

Nov. 22 — At Terre Haute South, 6 p.m.

Dec. 2 — Bloomington North, 6 p.m.

Dec. 6 — At Brown County (WIC), 5 p.m.

Dec. 12 — West Vigo (WIC), 6 p.m.

Dec. 16 — Terre Haute North, 6 p.m.

Dec. 19 — Edgewood (WIC), 6 p.m.

Jan. 6 — At Greencastle, 6 p.m.

Jan. 9 — At Owen Valley (WIC), 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 — Cascade, 6 p.m.

Jan. 15 — Martinsville, 6 p.m.

Jan. 21 — Danville, 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 23 — At South Vermillion (WIC), 6 p.m.

Jan. 27 — At Clay City, 6 p.m.

Jan. 30 — Sullivan (WIC), 6 p.m.

Feb. 3 — Plainfield, 6 p.m.

Feb. 5 — At Bloomfield, 6 p.m.

WIC — denotes Western Indiana Conference game

Northview roster

Player Ht. Yr.

Shelby Colson 5-9 Sr.

Kirstin Kimball 6-0 Sr.

Erica Lee 5-9 Sr.

Spring Raines 5-8 Sr.

Stormi Raines 5-7 Sr.

Carlee Bell 5-2 Jr.

Emily Phillips 5-6 Jr.

Kelsey Searing 5-6 Jr.

Ali Sharton 5-7 Jr.

Chelsey Sampson 6-2 So.

Lauren Webster 5-4 So.