GIRLS BB: Area previews of Cass, Mac, Peru and Tipton | National Sports

Nov. 6—The Three Rivers Conference is assured of a new girls basketball champion this season.

Tippecanoe Valley, which won the TRC with a 9-0 record last season, exited the conference. Lewis Cass left the Hoosier Conference to take Valley’s spot in the TRC where they are joined by fellow KT-area teams Maconaquah and Peru.

“I think the TRC is wide open this season with the subtraction of Tippy Valley. I think North Miami would be looking to step into that favorite role, but there are many teams that will be capable of winning any night,” Peru coach Jenna Hayes said.

Cass coach Kyle Amor is looking forward to the Kings’ first trip through the conference.

“There is certainly a lot more parity in the TRC than there was in the Hoosier,” he said. “Though we played several teams in the TRC last year, I haven’t had a chance to see teams like Whitko, Southwood and Northfield. A year ago, we were able to get wins against Peru and Manchester. Wabash beat us by one and North Miami beat us by seven.

“I think we have just as good of chance of any team as competing for a conference championship,” Amor added.

The following are looks at Cass, Mac and Peru as well as Hoosier Conference school Tipton as we wrap up our girls basketball previews.

CASS

Amor likes the strides Cass has made in his first four seasons with the program. First, he saw the Kings learn to play hard and to play consistently. From there, he saw them learn to compete.

Amor hopes the Kings are ready to take the next step.

“Learning how to win is another step in that process,” he said. “I really like the kids we have on our roster this year. It’s a group that definitely goes hard. They know how to compete and I believe knows how to win.”

The Kings (7-17 last season) return a strong core of players including their leading scorer, 5-1 sophomore guard Aftin Griffin, and their leader in rebounds and assists, 6-1 senior forward Kinsey Mennen. Griffin averaged 7.9 points per game and Mennen averaged 4.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

Amor also returns 5-5 sophomore guard Anna Hedrick (5.8 points), 5-10 junior forward Mylie Sipe (3.3), 5-2 senior guard Faith Helvie (2.9), 5-6 sophomore guard/forward Ava Hubner (1.0) and 5-7 sophomore guard/forward Kylie Logan.

Amor is adding 5-9 guard/forward Heta Kosunen and 5-5 freshman guard Laney Davis. Amor said Kosunen is a foreign exchange student from Finland who should help the team.

Amor said depth, size and speed are the Kings’ strengths. He pointed to developing consistent scoring options as a key.

Cass’ schedule has a new look with the change to the TRC. As for Class 2A Sectional 36, Amor sees fellow TRC teams North Miami and Wabash as the preseason favorites. North Miami won the sectional last year.

Amor said the Kings’ first goal is to achieve their first winning season since 2003.

“This is an ambitious group. A group of girls that have had success in every other sport. We have track and cross country stars that have advanced to regionals and state. Our softball team won a sectional last spring. We have kids that want and expect to have success,” he said.

Cass opened with a 71-5 victory over Eastern on Saturday. Griffin scored 17 points, Sipe had 12 points, Kosunen had 10 and Mennen and Helvie had eight points each.

Cass hosts Manchester on Tuesday for the Kings’ TRC debut.

PERU

The Bengal Tigers have to reload after graduating three of the top four scorers from a 10-14 team. That marked a five-win improvement from the 2021-22 season.

“Preseason went well for us,” said Hayes, who is entering her second year as Peru’s coach. “We are trying to incorporate a lot of new faces due to losing the five seniors that were on our varsity roster from last year, but I’ve had a lot of girls step up and we’re hoping to take steps forward again as a program when most probably feel this would be a rebuilding year.”

The Tigers’ class of 2023 included the 1-2 punch of Brianna Bennett (12.0 points, 4.9 assists, 3.0 steals per game) and Emma Eldridge (9.3 points, 5.5 rebounds). Bennett, who topped the area in assists, was a KT All-Area second-team selection.

“We lost around 70% of our scoring from this past season and that is always tough, but I feel like our returners have embraced that challenge. We also have some girls stepping up from our JV and newcomers that are more confident in themselves and have really grown in their skills over the summer,” Hayes said.

Peru returns 5-7 sophomore guard Addison Robbins (6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists), 5-8 senior forward Brooklyn Garner (3.6 points, 3.9 rebounds) and 5-10 senior forward Kaylene Kirk (3.1 points, 3.5 rebounds).

Hayes has six players moving into varsity roles — 5-3 senior guard Maliyah Dunn, 5-8 senior forward Peyton Wideman, 5-3 junior guard Mareiona Mason, 5-1 junior guard Sydney Azbell, 5-6 junior forward Lucy Sensel and 5-8 freshman forward Madalyn Gatliff.

Hayes is hoping Peru can challenge in the TRC. She sees North Miami as the favorite, but noted that she reminded her team that Peru beat North Miami last season. As for Class 3A Sectional 23, Hayes pointed to defending champ Norwell as the team to beat.

“We haven’t set any specific goals for ourselves. I think the goal for us is to be consistent every night. We weren’t consistent last year and that led to some losses that left us saying ‘what if’ too much,” Hayes said.

Peru is 0-2 after weekend losses to Oak Hill and Mississinewa. The Tigers visit Caston on Tuesday.

—In Saturday’s game, the Bengal Tigers led 11-9 after a quarter but Ole Miss took over after that, going up 23-15 at halftime and 43-26 after three quarters.

Robbins had a double-double for Peru with 16 points and 10 rebounds to go with four assists. Mason had 11 points and three assists.

MACONAQUAH

The Braves are entering their second season under coach Ray Davis. They rebuilt last season and had a 5-18 record.

“I do like where the program is at this year,” Davis said. “This past summer we had great participation by all of our players in workouts. We played against some of the most talented teams in the state and did quite well. Of course, with this being the second year, things are going in faster and the players realize the expectations.”

The Braves are mixing a strong returning group with a promising freshman class.

The returning players include seven seniors. That group includes 5-10 wing Miranda Stoll (17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds per game last season) and 5-5 guard Bailey Carson (7.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists). Stoll was a KT All-Area second-team selection.

The other seniors are 5-6 guard Hallie Maiben (3.3 points), 5-9 wing Shaelyn Powell (2.6 points), 5-7 post Sydney Barnes (2.9 points), 6-4 post Lauryn Merritt and 5-6 guard Chloe Smyth. Merritt will miss the season with a knee injury, but the Huntington commit remains involved with the team on a daily basis.

Also returning are 5-7 sophomore guards Addie Maiben and Averie Maiben.

The freshman class has 5-7 guard Delaney Betzner, 5-8 wing Aubrey Kaiser, 5-9 wing Ireland Kile and 5-6 guard Aubrey Stoll.

Davis pointed to three key areas for the team — reducing turnovers from last season, strong rebounding on both ends of the floor and making the team’s quickness an advantage.

Like Peru’s Hayes, Davis sees a competitive TRC race and sees Norwell as the Class 3A Sectional 23 favorite.

Davis said the Braves’ biggest goal is also their team motto: play hard, play smart and play together.

Maconaquah opened with a 57-11 victory over Tipton on Saturday. Miranda Stoll led the Braves with 13 points and Barnes had 10 points.

TIPTON

Hoosier Conference squad Tipton has a new look following the graduation of 6-3 post player Ashlee Schram. A four-time KT All-Area player, Schram posted career totals of 1,391 points and 1,177 rebounds.

“Losing Schram is difficult on the court and in the stat line, but also as a leader,” coach Lela Gillmann said. “She was a four-year starter for us and was someone we looked at for every possession. She worked hard and set the standard high for us in practice and games. We have a lot of younger girls that have looked up to her and are trying to match her commitment this year.”

The Blue Devils went 16-10 last season. All of their primary players either graduated or decided not to play this season.

Gillmann said 5-10 junior Hollyn Wilson (1.0 point per game) is the only player with varsity experience.

Gillmann also has 5-6 senior Rylee Katter, 5-8 senior Alli Powell, 5-8 senior Kyra Ley, 5-7 junior Hannah Olson and 5-7 sophomore Kendall Claus, but Powell is sidelined following knee surgery from a soccer injury.

The freshman class has 5-8 Mackenzie Farinella, 5-7 Kennedy Lancaster, 5-8 Makayla Schinlaub and 5-8 Ava Higginbotham.

“Our main goal is to improve every time we step on the court whether it be practice or a game,” Gillmann said. “I am very impressed with how hard the girls are working already this year. At the end of the day, our record is not a huge concern for us as a team. We just want to focus on getting better and growing as a team and individuals.

“If we improve, be competitive, and grow as basketball players and people I will be happy with our season,” she added.

Gillmann said the Hoosier Conference looks tough as always. In Class 2A Sectional 39, she sees Eastbrook as the favorite. Eastbrook beat Tipton 36-30 in the title game last season.

Bryan Gaskins is the Tribune’s sports editor. He may be reached at bryan.gaskins@kokomotribune.com or 765-454-8567.

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