Week-1 Recap
The feature image is of Olivia Nickerson Olivia Nickerson 5'7" | SG Twin Lakes | 2024 State IN (2024) of Twin Lakes High School. Now that the season is underway, each week we will look back and recap the previous…
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Continue ReadingThe feature image is of Olivia Nickerson Olivia Nickerson 5'7" | SG Twin Lakes | 2024 State IN (2024) of Twin Lakes High School.
Now that the season is underway, each week we will look back and recap the previous week’s action with a handful of storylines that stood out to us. Obviously this is a big, basketball-rich state, so we won’t be able to hit on everyone, but the below items were what caught our attention almost immediately from November 2 through November 7.
NEVER NERVOUS NICKERSON
While a few other 2024 prospects might have grabbed headlines throughout the Summer and early Fall, Twin Lakes guard
Olivia Nickerson
Olivia
Nickerson
5'7" | SG
Twin Lakes | 2024
State
IN
put together the most impressive opening week. In her first outing of her young career, the 5-6 guard poured in 42 points, including 6-13 from behind the arc and 16-20 at the free throw line. She also added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in her first contest. She then returned Saturday against one of the better teams in Class 4A, Northwestern, and contributed another 25 points to her team’s effort. She again knocked down six triples from outside, plus she collected three more rebounds, three more steals, and handed out three assists. Through two games, Nickerson has scored 67 of her teams 102 points, or roughly 66% of their offense.
REMEMBER THE ALAMO
If you’ve been around the game long enough, you can surely remember a Junior Varsity team finishing a game undermanned with just five kids, or maybe even four. You might even remember a Junior Varsity team starting a game with five kids. But for a Varsity team to begin a game that way is unheard of. Most coaches would postpone the game and try to reschedule, but not the Oregon-Davis Bobcats. Due to a number of reasons, but mostly dealing with COVID issues, the Class 1A Bobcats entered Saturday’s game against Class 4A Elkhart Consolidated with just five healthy, eligible players…two of which hadn’t played a competitive game since 5th Grade. They unfortunately fell 60-57, but the effort given was all a coach could ask for. High-scoring Senior wing
Mercedes Rhodes
Mercedes
Rhodes
5'8" | SF
Oregon-Davis | 2021
State
IN
scored 22 points on 8-12 shooting, plus she grabbed 14 rebounds. She was selected to the 2020 Indiana Junior All-Star team. Junior post player
Maddie Hudspeth
Maddie
Hudspeth
6'1" | C
Oregon-Davis | 2022
State
IN
was also stellar, going for 24 points on 10-14 shooting, while snagging 18 rebounds herself. If they can get healthy and keep their season going, look for the Bobcats to be a tough “out” in the North in Class 1A.
FRANKLIN WHO?
Franklin Central? No. Franklin County? No. Benjamin Franklin? No. The Franklin Community Grizzly Cubs might have made the biggest statement during the opening week, knocking off a pair of perennial powers. Last Thursday night, the Grizzly Cubs headed to Fortville to take on the Mount Vernon Marauders, a team who last year was 22-2 and beat them by a resounding 59-34 score. But this season, Franklin came back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, then won the extra period 10-3 on their way to a 59-52 “upset”. Leading the way for Franklin was Junior wing
Kuryn Brunson
Kuryn
Brunson
5'10" | SF
Franklin Community | 2022
State
IN
with 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Then Saturday in their home opener, the Grizzly Cubs took down Columbus North in equally impressive fashion, 56-44. The Bulldogs handled Franklin 50-13 just a year ago. Brunson again led the way with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and five steals. With the playmaking wing fully healthy, with Senior guard
Kyra Baker
Kyra
Baker
5'5" | PG
Franklin Community | 2021
State
IN
fully healthy, plus the hustle play of Senior forward
Lauren Sandrock
Lauren
Sandrock
5'11" | PF
Franklin Community | 2021
State
IN
, the Grizzly Cubs were already going to be solid. However, now add in the effect Freshmen guards
Scarlett Kimbrell
Scarlett
Kimbrell
5'11" | SF
Franklin Community | 2024
State
IN
and
Lauren Klem
Lauren
Klem
5'1" | PG
Franklin Community | 2024
State
IN
have had, and they possess a really nice starting lineup. They’ll need to stay healthy and out of foul trouble as a group, because I’m not sure how much true depth they have, but that lineup can shoot it from four positions, they are highly skilled, and they have a great feel for the game.
A MILLENNIAL MOMENT IN TIME
Saturday at Beech Grove, Roncalli Senior guard
Madelyn Bischoff
Madelyn
Bischoff
5'10" | SG
Roncalli | 2021
State
IN
reached the 1000-point plateau on her first made basket, joining 11 other alumni who have also reached the four-digit mark in the program’s history. In the 75-31 victory, the 5-10 Senior scored 25 total points on 10-17 shooting, plus she grabbed four rebounds and collected five thefts. She has proven time and time again that she is one of the state’s best shooters in the 2021 class, but she remains uncommitted at this time. She is a no-brain Division-I prospect, and someone is going to be very happy after she joins their program next season. Bischoff has great length and fluid athleticism, plus she can handle the ball and run offense at times. She is a complete guard, but it’s her ability to make shots that stands out during a time when shooting is at a premium.
SHHH, DON’T TELL ANYONE
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…Anderson Senior wing
Tyra Ford
Tyra
Ford
5'9" | SF
Anderson | 2021
State
IN
is one of the state’s best-kept secrets. She entered the season having scored 1348 points and having grabbed 620 rebounds. She is a fairly strong, extremely athletic kid who can score it at all three levels, but she’s tremendous when on attack, and she rebounds very well at her size. Against two of Indianapolis’ bigger programs last week, she started her season strong. Against an improved Pike squad, Ford scored 38 points, while knocking down 14 of 19 free throw attempts. She also grabbed seven rebounds in the narrow 59-57 loss. Four days later against the defending Class 4A State Champion Lawrence North Wildcats, Ford scored another 26 points and made 12 of 15 free throw attempts. While we aren’t on to Week-2 just yet, Ford had another outstanding performance last night in a near upset of Class 4A #7 Fishers. She has proven to be consistently productive, and coupled with her talent, IUPUI has a nice surprise coming their way next year.