Whitko Has Holes To Fill
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
"It's going to be tough," Whitko head coach Rob Bell said.
Graduating six seniors, Whitko will need production from young players a year after the school won its first conference title, while amassing a school-record 17 wins in the process.[[In-content Ad]]"The success of the past two seasons has left expectations high," Bell said. "However, we have a lot of holes to fill as we attempt to replace the majority of our starting lineup and all of our bench. It will take some time for the younger players to adapt to the intensity and speed of the varsity game."
In his third year at the helm of the Wildcats, Bell must replace two four-year starters in Jamie Westness and Jennaca Juillerat. Over their prep careers, the two girls set numerous school records, making life without them an adjustment for Bell.
"You're not going to replace that kind of production," Bell said. "We're going to try to make up for it when we can on defense."
Despite losing Westness and Juillerat, as well as Veronica Jersey, Beth VanHoozen, Amber Stephens and Brandy Studebaker, the cupboard isn't completely bare at Whitko High School.
Bell will be looking to the senior leadership of returnees Nikki Shepherd, Emily Bidwell and Times-Union All-Area selection Ashley Hoopingarner.
"Those three return with a lot of varsity experience," Bell said. "All three are all-conference players, and they have a good understanding of the team."
Hoopingarner returns as the team's leading scorer at 7.6 points, as well as the leader in assists and steals, at 1.8 and 3.6, respectively. The 6-foot-2 Bidwell brings back her 5.9 boards a game, while also averaging 7.3 points as a junior.
"Teams are going to try to take those three out of the game, and that's when others will need to step up," Bell said.
Among the young players Bell will look to are 5-7 junior forward Amanda Allender, 6-1 sophomore center Rachelle Kessie, sophomore point guard Stephanie Camden, 5-7 sophomore forward Nicole Slaymaker and 5-9 freshman point guard Michaela Sylvester.
"Some of the girls are going straight out of eighth grade basketball into varsity action," Bell said.
With so many new faces, Bell is aware that defense will be key for his girls when they begin their season Tuesday at home against Central Noble at 6:15 p.m.
"We are very aggressive and scrappy," he said. "We play a variety of defenses and attempt to put a lot of pressure on the basketball. Our quickness should allow us to use a variety of full and halfcourt pressure defenses to hopefully get some easy offense from our defense."
If his girls do use that defense to stay afloat until the offense comes around, Bell can see this year being a good one.
"It's not a sprint, it's a marathon," Bell said. "We may start slow, but we have to keep ourselves in it."
A year after winning their first Three Rivers Conference title, the Wildcats can rest assure that TRC teams may be looking to get some revenge.
"Wabash may be the team to beat," Bell said of the TRC. "North Miami is right there, too.
"I think our attitude is always to improve," he added. "We want to battle game in and game out. We just hope to stay competitive each game."
The number of victories may not replicate last year's, but the bar has been set a bit higher at Whitko because of last year's success.
"Expectations have been raised by everyone," Bell said.
"It's going to be tough," Whitko head coach Rob Bell said.
Graduating six seniors, Whitko will need production from young players a year after the school won its first conference title, while amassing a school-record 17 wins in the process.[[In-content Ad]]"The success of the past two seasons has left expectations high," Bell said. "However, we have a lot of holes to fill as we attempt to replace the majority of our starting lineup and all of our bench. It will take some time for the younger players to adapt to the intensity and speed of the varsity game."
In his third year at the helm of the Wildcats, Bell must replace two four-year starters in Jamie Westness and Jennaca Juillerat. Over their prep careers, the two girls set numerous school records, making life without them an adjustment for Bell.
"You're not going to replace that kind of production," Bell said. "We're going to try to make up for it when we can on defense."
Despite losing Westness and Juillerat, as well as Veronica Jersey, Beth VanHoozen, Amber Stephens and Brandy Studebaker, the cupboard isn't completely bare at Whitko High School.
Bell will be looking to the senior leadership of returnees Nikki Shepherd, Emily Bidwell and Times-Union All-Area selection Ashley Hoopingarner.
"Those three return with a lot of varsity experience," Bell said. "All three are all-conference players, and they have a good understanding of the team."
Hoopingarner returns as the team's leading scorer at 7.6 points, as well as the leader in assists and steals, at 1.8 and 3.6, respectively. The 6-foot-2 Bidwell brings back her 5.9 boards a game, while also averaging 7.3 points as a junior.
"Teams are going to try to take those three out of the game, and that's when others will need to step up," Bell said.
Among the young players Bell will look to are 5-7 junior forward Amanda Allender, 6-1 sophomore center Rachelle Kessie, sophomore point guard Stephanie Camden, 5-7 sophomore forward Nicole Slaymaker and 5-9 freshman point guard Michaela Sylvester.
"Some of the girls are going straight out of eighth grade basketball into varsity action," Bell said.
With so many new faces, Bell is aware that defense will be key for his girls when they begin their season Tuesday at home against Central Noble at 6:15 p.m.
"We are very aggressive and scrappy," he said. "We play a variety of defenses and attempt to put a lot of pressure on the basketball. Our quickness should allow us to use a variety of full and halfcourt pressure defenses to hopefully get some easy offense from our defense."
If his girls do use that defense to stay afloat until the offense comes around, Bell can see this year being a good one.
"It's not a sprint, it's a marathon," Bell said. "We may start slow, but we have to keep ourselves in it."
A year after winning their first Three Rivers Conference title, the Wildcats can rest assure that TRC teams may be looking to get some revenge.
"Wabash may be the team to beat," Bell said of the TRC. "North Miami is right there, too.
"I think our attitude is always to improve," he added. "We want to battle game in and game out. We just hope to stay competitive each game."
The number of victories may not replicate last year's, but the bar has been set a bit higher at Whitko because of last year's success.
"Expectations have been raised by everyone," Bell said.
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