Season Update: Mid-State

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="61040" first="Kuryn" last="Brunson"] of Franklin Community High School. Periodically throughout the season, I want to take the time to look in on several of the state’s conferences. I’ll take a peek at what teams are performing well, who the top prospects are, upcoming games, etc. The Mid-State Conference has been around for some time, having been established in 1942 with eight original schools. Those eight schools included Brownsburg, Danville Community, Decatur Central, Greenwood Community, Lawrence Central, Mooresville, Plainfield, and Speedway. However, the conference has taken on a number of changes over the years, though it does hold strong at eight schools as of today. Lawrence Central (1949), Brownsburg (1967), Danville Community (1978), and Speedway (1999) have all moved on to other conferences. Center Grove (1956/1981), Avon (1974/2000), and Beech Grove (1978/2005) have all come and gone as well. Decatur Central actually left for a period of time (1971-2006) before returning. But Whiteland Community (1968), Franklin Community (1981), Martinsville (2006), and Perry Meridian (2018) have all come and stayed, to equal the eight teams on hand in the Mid-State Conference these days. The Mid-State Conference has done a nice job in tracking girls’ basketball conference championships, which began in 1976. Over that span, Martinsville has a slight edge over Plainfield, with 12 championships to 11. Franklin Community (7), Avon (6), Whiteland Community (4), Center Grove (3), Martinsville (3), Beech Grove (2), Greenwood Community (2), Decatur Central (1), and Speedway (1) have also each won girls’ basketball conference championships. So far this season, the Mid-State Conference has impressed, finding a pair of their teams already ranked in the IBCA statewide Top-20 poll. Four of the eight schools sit above .500, while four are under .500 in terms of overall winning percentage. Franklin Community has really stepped up this season, and they recently knocked off Plainfield, but they still have January dates with both Mooresville and Martinsville. Six of the eight teams also have schedules currently rated inside the Top-50 in the state, and all of them are Top-100 level schedules, so they typically play strong competition throughout the season. All of these schools produce college talent, with a few of them having a Division-I prospect or two on their rosters most seasons.   <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">School</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Record</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Conference</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Schedule Strength</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Franklin Community</td> <td style="width: 25%;">10-0</td> <td style="width: 25%;">3-0</td> <td style="width: 25%;">89</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Martinsville</td> <td style="width: 25%;">10-2</td> <td style="width: 25%;">3-0</td> <td style="width: 25%;">25</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Mooresville</td> <td style="width: 25%;">6-4</td> <td style="width: 25%;">3-1</td> <td style="width: 25%;">14</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Plainfield</td> <td style="width: 25%;">6-4</td> <td style="width: 25%;">2-2</td> <td style="width: 25%;">27</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Perry Meridian</td> <td style="width: 25%;">2-8</td> <td style="width: 25%;">1-2</td> <td style="width: 25%;">49</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Decatur Central</td> <td style="width: 25%;">4-6</td> <td style="width: 25%;">1-3</td> <td style="width: 25%;">77</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Whiteland Community</td> <td style="width: 25%;">2-6</td> <td style="width: 25%;">0-1</td> <td style="width: 25%;">46</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Greenwood Community</td> <td style="width: 25%;">1-8</td> <td style="width: 25%;">0-4</td> <td style="width: 25%;">13</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Schedule strength is figured out of 400 qualifying schools in the state, regardless of classification.   Franklin Community Franklin Community entered this past week ranked #13 in the state with a 7-0 record, and following three more wins to move to 10-0, they are sure to continue their ascension. They began their season with a huge overtime road win at Mount Vernon (Fortville), before following that up at home with a victory against Columbus North...a pair of strong Class 4A programs the Grizzly Cubs have struggled with over the years. They later won at Plainfield, which served warning to the rest of the Mid-State Conference that they are for real this season. Now, they do still have to play traditional Mid-State powers Mooresville and Martinsville in January, which will likely prove to decide the conference winner, plus they have a non-conference date with Jennings County at the end of the regular season, and the Panthers are also much-improved. The Grizzly Cubs are doing this behind a trio of upperclassmen and a pair of Freshmen who play with a veteran savvy. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="61040" first="Kuryn" last="Brunson"] (19.1p, 5.6r, 4.6a, 2.8s) is a dynamic, playmaking, point forward type who can create scoring opportunities for everyone on the team. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="99396" first="Kyra" last="Baker"] (11.3p, 3.4r, 3.4a) is a tough-nosed point guard who can knock down shots outside. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="130331" first="Lauren" last="Sandrock"] (2.6p, 5.8r) isn’t a big scorer, but she’s a fluid athlete who can control the boards and defend multiple positions. Freshmen guards [player_tooltip player_id="176408" first="Lauren" last="Klem"] (12.8p, 3.4r, 2.0s) and [player_tooltip player_id="177336" first="Scarlett" last="Kimbrell"] (11.0p, 5.8r) have been a huge boost to the lineup this year. Klem is a feisty little playmaker who can shoot it outside, while Kimbrell is a long, fluid athlete with great range and accuracy on her jump-shot. Senior guard Megan Thompson (7.0p, 2.4a) and Freshman wing Erica Buening (4.0p, 3.0r) have also been consistent Varsity contributors this season. Martinsville The Artesians have also jumped out to a 10-win start this season. With wins against Bishop Chatard, Salem, Columbus East, and Center Grove, plus huge Mid-State wins against Mooresville and Plainfield already, they have put together a strong résumé already. Their two losses came at the hands of Columbus North and Ben Davis, both of which have had strong starts to their seasons as well. But Martinsville has remaining non-conference games with Noblesville, Roncalli, Bloomington South, and Bedford North Lawrence, plus the Mid-State matchup at Franklin Community on January 26 to potentially decide the conference champion. The Artesians don’t have a great deal of size, but they do have several really nice guards and wings on their roster. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="62535" first="Pa’Shence" last="Walker"] is the lone Senior who plays significant minutes, and the talented athlete is a really nice defender. She is in her fourth year at the Varsity level. The Junior class has a quartet of contributors who all play with versatility. Wing [player_tooltip player_id="97305" first="Ashlyn" last="Traylor"] is a strong, tough, gritty point forward type who can run the offense or score it herself. Guard [player_tooltip player_id="128153" first="Delaney" last="Wolfe"] is a nice athlete who can make shots outside or attack the basket. Wings [player_tooltip player_id="206424" first="Kearsten" last="Willen"] and Ryan Owens are also solid athletes who can score it at all three levels, plus both have improved a great deal over the last calendar year. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="59785" first="Adelyn" last="Walker"] is a tough, physical, and versatile forward who can play some in the mid-post or around the block, plus she’s comfortable outside as well. Collectively, this team does a really nice job defensively. Mooresville Don’t let the 6-4 record fool you; Mooresville plays a brutal non-conference schedule each year, and they are as tough as anyone in this conference. They began their season 0-4, with road losses at Fishers, Martinsville, and Bedford North Lawrence, before losing a close one at home to Columbus East, so they obviously aren’t shying away from competition. They drew Eastern (Pekin) in the first round of the upcoming, always tough, Columbus North holiday tournament, plus they have January non-conference dates with Mount Vernon (Fortville) and Bloomington South remaining. Additionally, if they can manage to knock off Franklin and Plainfield, plus win their other Mid-State Conference games, they would give themselves a chance to compete for the title if Martinsville were to lose somewhere along the way. The Pioneers always play with great balance, structure, and discipline, and they rarely have one standout player. Dynamic Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="182141" first="Madelynn" last="Denny"] (9.9p, 2.9r, 2.7a, 2.0s) and Senior forward Addison Shafer (9.1p, 5.3r) have helped the team bounce back with a six-game win streak. Freshman forward [player_tooltip player_id="177326" first="Rachel" last="Harshman"] (8.9p, 3.8r) showed a great motor all Summer/Fall, and she has continued that this Winter. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="128146" first="Allison" last="Graber"] (8.3p, 2.1r, 3.2a, 2.3s), Senior forward Kirsten Dove (7.1p, 5.0r, 2.0s), and Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="206423" first="Abigail" last="Young"] (6.6p, 4.4r, 3.2s) have added veteran stability to the lineup. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id="239348" first="Kalyn" last="Bunch"] (2.7p) and Sophomore Bri Hoskins (2.3r) are two more frontline players who can help inside. Plainfield The Quakers are another team whose record is deceiving, as they’ve played a tough schedule already, plus they’ve had key players in and out of the lineup. They began the year 5-0 with big Hendricks County rivalry wins against Brownsburg and Danville. But narrow losses against Center Grove and Martinsville, and another tough loss versus Franklin, have contributed to their 6-4 start to the year. And it doesn’t get much easier for Plainfield, as they host their own tournament, they participate in the Hendricks County Tournament, and they host Tri-West and Mid-State opponent Mooresville, all in January. The Quakers usually seem to have several really nice wings and guards, and the occasional front-liner who contributes. This year is one of the better and more balanced teams I can recall them having in some time. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id="97247" first="Ellie" last="Wilkerson"] (13.8p, 5.6r, 2.4a) and [player_tooltip player_id="61051" first="Jozee" last="Rhodes"] (10.6p, 5.4r, 2.3a, 2.1s) have been a strong tandem for Plainfield this year. Wilkerson is a physical wing with good perimeter skill, while Rhodes is a nice inside-out forward who can score it at all three levels (she is 16-29, 55% from ’3’). Senior guard Anna Tallent (11.6p, 2.8r) has also shot the ball well so far this season (21-48, 44% from ’3’), scoring two-thirds of her points outside. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="130334" first="Maycee" last="Woods"] (9.4p, 3.5r, 2.0a, 2.3s) is a smooth and fluid point forward type, plus Junior guards Audrey Harper (7.1p, 2.9r, 2.0s) and [player_tooltip player_id="128144" first="Audrey" last="Tallent"] (5.0p, 4.3r, 4.1a, 2.0s) are also regular contributors for the Quakers. Decatur Central Decatur Central has seen a lot of improvement the last couple of seasons, and this year they are trying to find that balance between veteran leadership and youthful talent. They have also already run into Greenwood Christian, Franklin, Lawrence North, and Mooresville, which has contributed to their 4-6 start. Cardinal Ritter, Martinsville, Danville, Lawrence Central, and Plainfield are on the horizon, but the Hawks do have several winnable games mixed in there as well, hopefully allowing them to get to double-digit wins, and possibly a winning record, once again. The Hawks have a really nice athlete in Senior forward Mya Jackson (12.3p, 5.7r) to look at inside. She has length and moves well in all directions. Sophomore guards Cadence Thomas (11.4p, 3.1r, 2.4s) and Paula Martin-Lopez (11.1p, 2.9r, 2.9a, 2.5s), plus Senior guard Maddie Wachnicki (5.3p, 4.8r, 2.3a, 2.3s), create a formidable backcourt for Decatur Central. Martin-Lopez is new to the program, while Thomas was a starter a year ago. Junior post Mookie McGee (4.3p, 5.7r) has done a nice job rebounding this season. Perry Meridian The Falcons have been above the .500 mark only once since the 2008-2009 season, when they won 21 games that year. While their record might not show it, they seem to be a bit more competitive each time out this season, but they have also dealt with postponements and cancellations on an ever-changing schedule. Perry Meridian did get a nice conference win against Decatur Central, plus they played Danville, Roncalli, Plainfield (OT), and Pike tough. While the second half of their schedule is a bit daunting with Franklin, a tournament at Hamilton Heights, followed by games against Ben Davis, Center Grove, and Martinsville, I’d expect them to continue making strides and matching/surpassing last season’s win total. The Senior quartet of wing [player_tooltip player_id="130383" first="Ali" last="Dale"] (13.6p, 4.7r), forward [player_tooltip player_id="130355" first="Sally" last="Mortensen"] (10.3p, 4.9r), guard Tiaira White (6.2p), and forward Lexi Dale (2.1p, 3.3r) bring the Falcons good experience. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="59765" first="Maya" last="Mundy"] (6.4p, 3.8r) and Junior forward Ella Scaringe (3.1p, 3.4r) are two more players with Varsity experience who help on a nightly basis. Whiteland Community The Warriors posted 11 wins a season ago, but this year they are playing without their two leading scorers from last season. They began this year with a pair of wins, but then ran into teams like Noblesville, Center Grove, and Roncalli. Whiteland has also dealt with COVID issues, as their last game was played December 1, and they are scheduled to finally return tomorrow in the Indianapolis Lutheran tournament. Hopefully they can find their footing and a little continuity this season, as there are several winnable games mixed into the remainder of their schedule. The Warriors are currently being led by Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="157171" first="Braylyn" last="Clendenen"] (11.9p, 2.4r, 2.1s), and she has done whatever she can to help them find the winning track. Juniors Muskaan Ghuman (5.9p, 6.7r), Kylee Marlin (5.0p, 3.0r, 2.4a), Gracie Taylor (4.1p, 5.4r), and Debbie Hill (2.8p, 3.2r), plus Sophomores Eliza Unsworth (4.3p, 2.5r) and Emma Piercy (2.9p) make up the core of the rotation for Whiteland. Missing is the 2019-2020 leading scorer, Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="99421" first="Gracie" last="McCullars"] (12.0p in 2019-2020). Greenwood Community The Woodmen have struggled with transition, as four of their 2019-2020 starters are not in the lineup this year, but only one of them was a graduate. They did have a nice win against Bloomington North, but they will need to find offensive consistency, and that will be tough with a lack of experience at the Varsity level right now. There are a few winnable games down the stretch, so they might be able to approach last season’s five-win total. The lone returnee from last year is Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="97263" first="Quinn" last="Kelly"] (12.8p, 9.5r), and she can be a handful inside. She plays with a nice motor, plus she’s a strong athlete who can play inside-out. But when 2019-2020 leading scorer and playmaker [player_tooltip player_id="62575" first="Brooklyn" last="Stubblefield"] (14.0p in 2019-2020) transferred to nearby Greenwood Christian, it dealt quite the blow to the Woodmen. They are also without the services of Junior guard Anna Pritchett (7.4p in 2019-2020) and Senior forward Jenna Sawyer (6.6p, 5.7r in 2019-2020). Sophomore forward Ella Stivers (4.8p, 3.5r) does at least bring back some experience, and talented 6-0 Freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id="201867" first="Brooklyn" last="Bell"] (4.5p, 5.0r, 2.5b) could really develop into a nice prospect over the years with added strength.