Bell Trying To Add Stability At Whitko
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SOUTH WHITLEY - Just as the school structure itself is under construction, the Whitko High School girls basketball program also is in another renovation stage.
The Wildcats, who finished last season with a 5-16 record overall, a 2-5 mark in the Three Rivers Conference and a one-point loss to Peru in the first round of the sectional, open the 2006-2007 campaign tonight when they host Central Noble.
Whitko enters the season with a new head coach in Rob Bell, the Wildcats' third head coach in six years.
Bell, who spent the past four years as an assistant at Columbia City for Hall of Fame coach Wayne Krieger, was hired in June to take over for Ryan Cunningham, who resigned after years at the helm of the Whitko program.
In Cunningham's four-year tenure, the Wildcats won a total of 17 games and were 6-22 in the TRC.
"The program needs some direction, some stability," said Bell, a science teacher at Columbia City High School. "The coaching staff has changed so much."
Though the Wildcats lost 11 of their final 12 games last year, including the final six, Bell believes Whitko has the chance post a winning record, finish near the top of the TRC standings and win the sectional championship.
"We talked about that," Bell said of Whitko not having much success in the win-loss column. "In 30 years, I think Whitko has only had seven or eight winning seasons. We expect good things this year. Whether or not that happens, we hope it does."
Gone from last year's team are just three players, Jayanna Begley, Katie Trump and Kylee Brown.
Begley, who averaged nearly nine points per game, and Trump, who averaged 1.4 points per contest, graduated. Brown, who averaged seven points per game did not come out for this year's team.
This year's varsity roster has just one senior, Jill Wendel, who averaged 2.5 points per game last season.
"It is nice to have a senior," said Bell. "Jill Wendel has been a good leader as a senior. We also have a group of juniors that have played a lot since they were freshmen."
Along with Wendel, Whitko's roster includes eight juniors and five sophomores.
"The talent is there, the work ethic has been there," said Bell. "All summer and all fall the girls have worked hard. I can't say enough about how hard they've worked. We've got 13 kids that can play, about nine are interchangeable. I think we can matchup with teams. I think we can have more than one starting lineup and not lose a whole lot."
For tonight's season opener with Central Noble, Bell will likely start Wendel, juniors Jamie Westness, Jennaca Juillerat and Veronica Jersey and sophomore Ashley Hoopingarner.
Westness is Whitko's leading scorer back from a year ago, averaging 9.8 points per game, while Juillerat scored 9.5 points per game and Hoopingarner tossed in 5.3 points per game.
Westness is listed as 6-foot, while sophomore Emily Bidwell is listed as 6-1.
"We've got decent shooters," said Bell. "We also have good size in the post if we need to pound it inside. If teams want to take away the outside, we'll take it inside."
Bell said his team is focusing on fundamentals, and the identity of his team this year will be defense.
"We're not going to be a run up and down the floor team," said Bell. "We're going to be in your face defensively. We may win some games 20-18, and we're fine with that."
Bell said his style comes from working with Kreiger, as well as watching Columbia City boys coach Chris Benedict and DeKalb girls coach Doug Curtis, a good friend of Bell's.
"I hope if Coach (Kreiger) watches us play he'd be proud of what he sees," said Bell. "You'll see some of the stuff Columbia City does, but I'm adding my own stuff. I hope what you see is a team that works hard and doesn't quit."
After hosting Central Noble tonight, Whitko plays at Columbia City Friday and hosts Churubusco Saturday.
WHITKO WILDCATS
NO. NAME GRADE
3 Ashley Hoopingarner 10
12 Niki Shepherd 10
15 Beth VanHoozen 11
21 Jill Wendel 12
23 Jamie Westness 11
25 Veronica Jersey 11
32 Jennaca Juillerat 11
33 Brittney Pherigo 11
34 Amber Stephens 11
35 Caila Carroll 10
43 Brandy Studebaker 11
44 Emily Bidwell 10
52 Kelsey Mize 10
53 Audra Winger 11 [[In-content Ad]]
SOUTH WHITLEY - Just as the school structure itself is under construction, the Whitko High School girls basketball program also is in another renovation stage.
The Wildcats, who finished last season with a 5-16 record overall, a 2-5 mark in the Three Rivers Conference and a one-point loss to Peru in the first round of the sectional, open the 2006-2007 campaign tonight when they host Central Noble.
Whitko enters the season with a new head coach in Rob Bell, the Wildcats' third head coach in six years.
Bell, who spent the past four years as an assistant at Columbia City for Hall of Fame coach Wayne Krieger, was hired in June to take over for Ryan Cunningham, who resigned after years at the helm of the Whitko program.
In Cunningham's four-year tenure, the Wildcats won a total of 17 games and were 6-22 in the TRC.
"The program needs some direction, some stability," said Bell, a science teacher at Columbia City High School. "The coaching staff has changed so much."
Though the Wildcats lost 11 of their final 12 games last year, including the final six, Bell believes Whitko has the chance post a winning record, finish near the top of the TRC standings and win the sectional championship.
"We talked about that," Bell said of Whitko not having much success in the win-loss column. "In 30 years, I think Whitko has only had seven or eight winning seasons. We expect good things this year. Whether or not that happens, we hope it does."
Gone from last year's team are just three players, Jayanna Begley, Katie Trump and Kylee Brown.
Begley, who averaged nearly nine points per game, and Trump, who averaged 1.4 points per contest, graduated. Brown, who averaged seven points per game did not come out for this year's team.
This year's varsity roster has just one senior, Jill Wendel, who averaged 2.5 points per game last season.
"It is nice to have a senior," said Bell. "Jill Wendel has been a good leader as a senior. We also have a group of juniors that have played a lot since they were freshmen."
Along with Wendel, Whitko's roster includes eight juniors and five sophomores.
"The talent is there, the work ethic has been there," said Bell. "All summer and all fall the girls have worked hard. I can't say enough about how hard they've worked. We've got 13 kids that can play, about nine are interchangeable. I think we can matchup with teams. I think we can have more than one starting lineup and not lose a whole lot."
For tonight's season opener with Central Noble, Bell will likely start Wendel, juniors Jamie Westness, Jennaca Juillerat and Veronica Jersey and sophomore Ashley Hoopingarner.
Westness is Whitko's leading scorer back from a year ago, averaging 9.8 points per game, while Juillerat scored 9.5 points per game and Hoopingarner tossed in 5.3 points per game.
Westness is listed as 6-foot, while sophomore Emily Bidwell is listed as 6-1.
"We've got decent shooters," said Bell. "We also have good size in the post if we need to pound it inside. If teams want to take away the outside, we'll take it inside."
Bell said his team is focusing on fundamentals, and the identity of his team this year will be defense.
"We're not going to be a run up and down the floor team," said Bell. "We're going to be in your face defensively. We may win some games 20-18, and we're fine with that."
Bell said his style comes from working with Kreiger, as well as watching Columbia City boys coach Chris Benedict and DeKalb girls coach Doug Curtis, a good friend of Bell's.
"I hope if Coach (Kreiger) watches us play he'd be proud of what he sees," said Bell. "You'll see some of the stuff Columbia City does, but I'm adding my own stuff. I hope what you see is a team that works hard and doesn't quit."
After hosting Central Noble tonight, Whitko plays at Columbia City Friday and hosts Churubusco Saturday.
WHITKO WILDCATS
NO. NAME GRADE
3 Ashley Hoopingarner 10
12 Niki Shepherd 10
15 Beth VanHoozen 11
21 Jill Wendel 12
23 Jamie Westness 11
25 Veronica Jersey 11
32 Jennaca Juillerat 11
33 Brittney Pherigo 11
34 Amber Stephens 11
35 Caila Carroll 10
43 Brandy Studebaker 11
44 Emily Bidwell 10
52 Kelsey Mize 10
53 Audra Winger 11 [[In-content Ad]]