Valley Girls Enter New Era
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Kindig compiled that record with the 8th grade boys basketball team at Tippeanoe Valley Middle School, where he coached the past five seasons.[[In-content Ad]]This season, Kindig will direct the varsity girls basketball team at Tippecanoe Valley High School, where he replaces Gary Teel.
Teel stepped down last spring after 12 seasons with the Lady Vikings.
Under Teel, Valley won sectional championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. Teel is the only coach to guide the Lady Vikings to a sectional crown.
"I want to run a fundamental system," said Kindig, who served as the junior varsity boys coach at TVHS during the 1990s while Greg Sciarra was the head coach. "We spent a lot of time in the summer and open gyms just working on basic stuff."
The Lady Vikings were 9-12 last season and lost 51-43 to Three Rivers Conference rival Whitko in sectional play.
Graduated from last year's team, which went 6-1 in conference action, are Kate Myers and Hannah Boggs.
Myers averaged nearly 11 points and six rebounds per game, while Boggs contributed eight points and three boards per game.
Junior Staci Groom is Valley's leading returner. She averaged nearly 15 points and three rebounds per game last season.
"Staci Groom, our leading scorer, is back," said Kindig. "She's going to have to play well for us."
Other players on Valley's varsity roster include seniors Becky Minnick and Taylor Gast; juniors Brooke O'Connor, Tory Keirn, Megan Bibler and Amanda Simpson; and sophomores Courtney Newsome and Danielle Bussard.
"I want to change the mindset," said Kindig. "I want players who are committed, not just interested. When you're committed, there's no excuses. I don't want players who are just going to show up."
Valley opens the season Thursday at Bremen, followed by a game at Oregon-Davis Nov. 16 and a game at county rival Warsaw Nov. 19.
The Lady Vikings play their first home game Nov. 27 when they host their annual Thanksgiving Classic.
Valley opens TRC play Dec. 4 when it hosts defending conference champion Wabash.
"I want to develop a toughness," said Kindig. "My main goal is that this team plays hard. If teams say nothing else about us, I want them to at least say Valley plays hard."
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Kindig compiled that record with the 8th grade boys basketball team at Tippeanoe Valley Middle School, where he coached the past five seasons.[[In-content Ad]]This season, Kindig will direct the varsity girls basketball team at Tippecanoe Valley High School, where he replaces Gary Teel.
Teel stepped down last spring after 12 seasons with the Lady Vikings.
Under Teel, Valley won sectional championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. Teel is the only coach to guide the Lady Vikings to a sectional crown.
"I want to run a fundamental system," said Kindig, who served as the junior varsity boys coach at TVHS during the 1990s while Greg Sciarra was the head coach. "We spent a lot of time in the summer and open gyms just working on basic stuff."
The Lady Vikings were 9-12 last season and lost 51-43 to Three Rivers Conference rival Whitko in sectional play.
Graduated from last year's team, which went 6-1 in conference action, are Kate Myers and Hannah Boggs.
Myers averaged nearly 11 points and six rebounds per game, while Boggs contributed eight points and three boards per game.
Junior Staci Groom is Valley's leading returner. She averaged nearly 15 points and three rebounds per game last season.
"Staci Groom, our leading scorer, is back," said Kindig. "She's going to have to play well for us."
Other players on Valley's varsity roster include seniors Becky Minnick and Taylor Gast; juniors Brooke O'Connor, Tory Keirn, Megan Bibler and Amanda Simpson; and sophomores Courtney Newsome and Danielle Bussard.
"I want to change the mindset," said Kindig. "I want players who are committed, not just interested. When you're committed, there's no excuses. I don't want players who are just going to show up."
Valley opens the season Thursday at Bremen, followed by a game at Oregon-Davis Nov. 16 and a game at county rival Warsaw Nov. 19.
The Lady Vikings play their first home game Nov. 27 when they host their annual Thanksgiving Classic.
Valley opens TRC play Dec. 4 when it hosts defending conference champion Wabash.
"I want to develop a toughness," said Kindig. "My main goal is that this team plays hard. If teams say nothing else about us, I want them to at least say Valley plays hard."
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