My View/Your View: Girls basketball has Two Major Story Lines This Season

There are several interesting story lines to watch during the 2009-10 Indiana high school girls basketball season that gets under way this week, but none more inviting than two in the Indianapolis area involving reigning state champions.

Will Class 4A Ben Davis repeat as state champion? Can 2A Heritage Christian win a record-setting five straight championships?

Ben Davis, the national high school Team of the Year with national Coach of the Year Stan Benge, went 30-0 and set a record for victories in single girls basketball season. Heritage Christian, of course, became only the second team to win four titles in a row, not to mention the first team to win all four in the same class.

The answer to the first question could be yes, possibly, or maybe in all likelihood. The Giants return a plethora of talent, led by 5-10 junior guard Bria Goss, a big-time playmaker who is silky smooth when it comes to handling the ball, passing and scoring. She made the winning shot to beat South Bend Washington and Naismith Player of the Year Skylar Diggins in the 4A finale.

As for Heritage Christian’s Eagles, I would not write them off. Someone first needs to prove they are beatable. And the cupboard is hardly bare for coach Rick Risinger, who is 104-8 in four seasons at the Northeast side school, coming off a 26-1 season. Though he graduated three players, led by Indiana All-Star and McDonald’s All-American Kelly Faris, he obviously sees some positives in his team, led by senior Kaycee Jones and junior Liz Stratman, the lone starters back in camp.

“Last week we had two-a-day-sessions and the players have responded extremely well. They are very focused in continuing the tradition of our ladies basketball,’’ Risinger said.

Risinger said that Jones has stepped up her game in preparation for the season, and the 6-foot-2 Stratman, who had 12 points and nine rebounds in the state championship game, has stepped into a team leader position with the departure of his three senior starters.

“She (Liz) will be one of the dominant players in Indiana and a strong candidate for junior All-Stars,’’ he said.

The bottom line is that both Ben Davis and Heritage Christian should again be dominant programs.

The Giants, who open Nov. 14 at Brownsburg, have won 44 straight games and 37 regular-season games in succession. Impressive, you say? Well, consider Heritage Christian’s dominance – 64 straight victories against Indiana opponents and 42 in a row against 2A teams. Class 4A South Bend Washington was the last Indiana team to beat Heritage Christian. That came in the 2006-07 season, the same year it won the 4A state title.

The Eagles opened with Class 3A Indianapolis Northwest on Tuesday, and host Fort Wayne Luers on Saturday. Luers, like Heritage Christian, plays mostly upper-class teams.

Now wouldn’t it be something if those streaks were still intact when the Marion County schools collide in a first-round game of the Ben Davis Tournament on Jan. 2?

Regardless, that game should be worth the price of admission.

Thumbnail look at some top teams:

1. Ben Davis-Coach Stan Benge lost only three players to graduation. In addition to junior Bria Goss, veteran seniors Dee Dee Williams and Vivian Holcomb, both of whom started at times, are back and joined by Ball State recruit Jordan Huber, a very good 3-point shooter, and Demetria Nusley-Lash, a quick, slashing player. The Giants will be that much stronger if 6-2 sophomore Shawnee Teague proves to be a contributor. Outlook: I wouldn’t necessarily pencil Ben Davis in for another unbeaten season (they were 30-0 last year), but on paper, these Giants certainly look hard to beat.

2. Carmel-Carmel will be a threat again with a young team that’s probably a year away from being exceptionally dominant. Still, the Greyhounds are built around sensational 6-foot-1 junior Torrie Thornton, who could play for any team. Sophomores Blaire Langlois, Abbey Dean, Lucy DeFruscio and Beth Larson also saw a lot of playing time as freshmen. Outlook: This will be a fun team to watch, and the Greyhounds should become seasoned in a hurry playing such a difficult schedule.

3. Mooresville-Top scorer Jama Sharp, a junior, returns from a semistate team, along with senior Maegan Calloway (6-1), Sierra Chabra and Aerial Clark. Outlook: This team should again win a lot of games (the Pioneers were 23-2 last season). That 59-27 semistate loss to Ben Davis could serve as motivation for the Pioneers.

4. Pendleton Heights-Senior Mur Hagerman (5-10), a four-year starter, is a great shooter and one of the better players in the game. The Arabians have virtually everybody back from a team that lost to 4A state runner-up South Bend Washington in the northern semistate. Outlook: Coach Shari Doud and company may be knocking on the door again this season after winning their first regional. Maybe even ready to get in that door.

5. Heritage Christian-Kaycee Jones and Liz Stratman, the only returning starters from last year’s Class 2A state championship team, are good ones. Also back are Maddie Anderson, a regular in a backup position and the younger sister of graduated Emily Anderson, and Brittany Webb, who came in off the bench in the title game. Still, this team has much to prove before anyone can look ahead and start talking about a possible fifth successive state championship. Outcome: They play many bigger schools (they were dropped by Carmel, but picked up Ben Davis) and should gain experience quickly. So expect another strong, competitive team, one that could be in top form heading into the sectionals.

6. Perry Meridian-Senior center Lindsay Spears (6-1), currently nursing a knee injury, and juniors Krista Schott and Amanda Raker (6-1), an exceptional performer, return from a team that reached the regional round. Outlook: The Falcons should cause some commotion in the regular season, and certainly strong sectional contenders once again, especially if Spears is at full strength.

7. Plainfield-Quakers nearly made it out of a 4A regional a year ago, and they’ve got most of their players back, with junior Julia Henson rated as one of the area’s top players. The 5-10 guard averaged 13.4 points last year and was a top all-around performer. She’ll be joined by seniors Jamie Lydick and Samantha Smith, and junior forward Sarah Janssen. Outlook: Can coach Curt Benge’s team finally get past Mooresville?

8. Warren Central-No fewer than four freshmen saw a lot of action in the 2008-09 season, led by Linzi Moore and Bre Denny, both excellent shooters. Brandi McKinney, a 5-9 senior who averaged right at 13.0 points a year ago, along with 5-11 Jordan Barton and 5-9 Taylor Ford. will provide quite a nucleus. Outlook: The Warriors have experience, balance and excellent scoring ability, so they may be able to run with most of the big dogs this season.

9. Roncalli-Seniors Natalie Cahill and Caitlin Hansen should lead some talented returnees that include sophomore Katie Brewer (6-2) and sophomore CoCo Clark. Outlook: Keep an eye on these Rebels. They’ve got game.

10. Hamilton Heights-The Huskies, who were 17-4 a year ago, will be led by talented guards Libby Ogden and Jessica Carr, both juniors. Ogden is a very solid ball handler and Carr is an exceptional shooter. Sophomore Brianna Marshall (6-1) will be counted on underneath. Catie Carroll and Alex Hays are the lone seniors. Outlook: This team has talent and experience, but lack of size could be a problem, especially in the tournament.

11. Mt. Vernon-The Marauders have a talented guard combo in senior Staci Funkhouser and sophomore Jessica Brown. They also have a 6-1 sophomore post player in McKenzi Reasor and a three-sport athlete in Kayla Negley, who is a solid performer. Outlook: Talent aside, coach Julie Shelton, Butler's all-time scoring leader, coach’s the 1-2-2 matchup zone, which should make Mt. Vernon even more effective.

12. Whiteland-Morgan Johnson (5-10), a 20-plus scorer, can flat-out shoot it and is one of three talented juniors returning. The daughter of boys coach Marty Johnson, who’s on a one-year leave from the Whiteland team, has recovered from a concussion that limited her playing time last season. Also back is junior Drea Mize (5-9) and Haley Howard (5-10) . Outlook: If Johnson’s game is as good as it was before her injury, watch out! She could carry the Warriors a long way.

Some players to watch (in alphabetical order):

Kelsey Bryant (5-7), Sr., Greenfield-Central

Carly Buchanan (5-9), Sr., Franklin

Brittany Campbell (6-3), Sr., Brebeuf Jesuit

Kristen Dickman (5-10), Jr., Zionsville

Rachel Evans (6-2), Sr., Westfield

Kirsten Gliesmann, Sr., Center Grove

Kylee Hamilton (5-4), Sr., Indian Creek

Anita Hernandez (5-7), Sr. Cardinal Ritter

LaTeasha Hill (6-0), Sr., Franklin Central

Amy Kramer (6-2), Sr., Danville

Kelsey Lamb (6-0), Sr. Hamilton Southeastern

Shanika Maddox (6-1), Sr, Fishers

Anna Munn (5-10), Sr., Decatur Central

Sydni Phelan (5-9), Sr., New Palestine

Micah Pollard (5-6), Jr., Covenant Christian

Danny Pulliam (5-10), Sr. Pike

Samantha Ricks (5-9), Sr. Tri-West

Aunyae Smith (5-8), So., Howe

Bria Sneed (5-3), Sr., University

Emily Stanisz (5-10), Sr. Guerin Catholic

Chelsea Weaver (5-10), Sr. Shelbyville

Mark Morrow is an online columnist for VYPE High School Sports Magazine, Central Indiana. He can be reached at mediamarko@sbcglobal.net or by leaving a comment.

Photos courtesy of Khris Hale and Jeff Rider/INHSPHOTOS.COM