Lady Trojans Looking For Identity
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Back this year is the leading scorer from last season's 13-10 team, junior Shana Anderson, and leading rebounder, senior Megan Howdeshell, but Heckaman did say good bye to a lot of experience with the loss of Emily Duff, Allison Thacker, Sarah Stichter, Aundrea Sellers, Lindsay Ganshorn and Hannah Downing.
"We lost a lot of experience," he said. "Last year's seniors were good workers and showed the underclassmen what it took to win."
Anderson was one of those underclassmen, and by averaging 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists a game she earned a spot on the 2010-11 Times-Union All-Area Team.
Up until this season, Anderson has been able to sit back a little bit as one of the "young players", but as a junior, her role will need to expand a bit.
"She used to be one of our young ones and that's going to change," Heckaman said. "She needs to step up with her leadership and be more vocal. Megan and Shana will both need to fill that void. The young girls will be looking to them for guidance."
Among those young players looking for guidance will be five freshman, including Kaelyn Mason, Kylie Mason, Hannah Jennings, Becca Kennedy and Krystal Sellers.
"I wouldn't say we're rebuilding," Heckaman said. "These girls love to play and are always coming into the gym. We just have a young lineup that will ned to get up and down."
And the freshmen won't be the only ones expected to contribute much more on the varsity level.
"(Sophomores) Taylor Hatfield and Mallorie Jennings will need to step up too," Heckaman said. "We have some kids that are going to need to step in and fill voids."
Also on this year's team are junior Breanna Lemler and sophomore Allie Kann, and they'll be a part of a team looking to keep a good thing going in Bourbon.
Last year's squad won Triton's first sectional title since 2003-04 with a 62-48 victory over Oregon-Davis, before bowing out of the tournament with a 71-36 regional loss to eventual Class 1A state champion Fort Wayne Canterbury.
If the Lady Trojans are going to get to that level again, the squad will need some consistent play in the lane.
"Lemler and Megan will both need to fill the void in the post," Heckaman said.
Lemler and Howdeshell do have some size for Heckaman, but for the most part, the Lady Trojans are guard heavy.
"We're not real big," he said. "We're going to need to get out and get after it. For me, the more opportunities we have to score, the better."
With so much youth, Heckaman will get his first glimpse of this year's squad tonight at North Judson.
"I'm excited," he said about the matchup. "We had a really good scrimmage, which showed us what we needed to work on. Against North Judson, we'll meet a team that returns a lot of experience. So, it's going to be experience against inexperience. We'll get to see what we're made of right away."
Following the opener, the Lady Trojans will ease into Northern State Conference, and Heckaman sees it being an open race this season.
"Culver graduated all five of its girls, and they'll need to fill positions," Heckaman said. "Bremen is always solid and John Glenn will rebound this year with a new coach. But, I think New Prairie will be the one to beat."[[In-content Ad]]
Back this year is the leading scorer from last season's 13-10 team, junior Shana Anderson, and leading rebounder, senior Megan Howdeshell, but Heckaman did say good bye to a lot of experience with the loss of Emily Duff, Allison Thacker, Sarah Stichter, Aundrea Sellers, Lindsay Ganshorn and Hannah Downing.
"We lost a lot of experience," he said. "Last year's seniors were good workers and showed the underclassmen what it took to win."
Anderson was one of those underclassmen, and by averaging 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists a game she earned a spot on the 2010-11 Times-Union All-Area Team.
Up until this season, Anderson has been able to sit back a little bit as one of the "young players", but as a junior, her role will need to expand a bit.
"She used to be one of our young ones and that's going to change," Heckaman said. "She needs to step up with her leadership and be more vocal. Megan and Shana will both need to fill that void. The young girls will be looking to them for guidance."
Among those young players looking for guidance will be five freshman, including Kaelyn Mason, Kylie Mason, Hannah Jennings, Becca Kennedy and Krystal Sellers.
"I wouldn't say we're rebuilding," Heckaman said. "These girls love to play and are always coming into the gym. We just have a young lineup that will ned to get up and down."
And the freshmen won't be the only ones expected to contribute much more on the varsity level.
"(Sophomores) Taylor Hatfield and Mallorie Jennings will need to step up too," Heckaman said. "We have some kids that are going to need to step in and fill voids."
Also on this year's team are junior Breanna Lemler and sophomore Allie Kann, and they'll be a part of a team looking to keep a good thing going in Bourbon.
Last year's squad won Triton's first sectional title since 2003-04 with a 62-48 victory over Oregon-Davis, before bowing out of the tournament with a 71-36 regional loss to eventual Class 1A state champion Fort Wayne Canterbury.
If the Lady Trojans are going to get to that level again, the squad will need some consistent play in the lane.
"Lemler and Megan will both need to fill the void in the post," Heckaman said.
Lemler and Howdeshell do have some size for Heckaman, but for the most part, the Lady Trojans are guard heavy.
"We're not real big," he said. "We're going to need to get out and get after it. For me, the more opportunities we have to score, the better."
With so much youth, Heckaman will get his first glimpse of this year's squad tonight at North Judson.
"I'm excited," he said about the matchup. "We had a really good scrimmage, which showed us what we needed to work on. Against North Judson, we'll meet a team that returns a lot of experience. So, it's going to be experience against inexperience. We'll get to see what we're made of right away."
Following the opener, the Lady Trojans will ease into Northern State Conference, and Heckaman sees it being an open race this season.
"Culver graduated all five of its girls, and they'll need to fill positions," Heckaman said. "Bremen is always solid and John Glenn will rebound this year with a new coach. But, I think New Prairie will be the one to beat."[[In-content Ad]]
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