Expectations High For Lady Vikings
November 1, 2016 at 4:45 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Coach Chris Kindig believes they should be.
The Lady Vikings, who open the season Thursday at Bremen, have gone 50-5 overall and 16-0 in the Three Rivers Conference the past two seasons. They enter the 2016-17 campaign ranked fourth in the Class 3A poll.
Two years ago, Valley won the program’s first regional title and later advanced to the state finals.
Last year, the Lady Vikings fell in the regional championship game to eventual state champ Heritage Christian.
With a wealth of talented and experienced players back from those teams, it’s easy to understand the buzz and high hopes surrounding the Lady Vikings.
“This could be our best team,” Kindig said when asked about the expectations. “I think we can go nine or 10 (players) deep. Right now I couldn’t tell you who our five starters are, and that’s a good thing. Expectations are high, and that’s the way they should be.
“I’m not gonna minimize that at all. We should be the favorite in a lot of games, but the girls really haven’t taken the attitude that they’ve got it made, or anything to that extent. They continue to work hard, and the things they’ve been able to accomplish is because they deserve it.”
Returning starters from last year’s 25-2 team include seniors Anne Secrest, Meredith Brouyette and Hannah Dunn, as well as junior Addy Miller.
Secrest, a three-time Times-Union Area Player of the Year, averaged nearly 17 points, eight rebounds, two steals, two assists and two blocks per game last year.
Brouyette made 57 three-pointers and averaged just under nine points per game a season ago, while Miller swished 55 treys and averaged eight points per contest.
Dunn averaged nearly seven points and four rebounds and dished out two assists per game.
The Lady Vikings graduated just three players from last year’s squad – Brynda Krueger, Karis Tucker and Morgan Brazo.
On Valley’s 10-player roster and expected to contribute in big ways are seniors Kilee Slone and Taneisha Brown, juniors Olivia Trippiedi and Asia O’Connor, and sophomores Sophie Bussard and Emily Peterson.
“Where we finish this year, who knows where that’s gonna be,” said Kindig. “I think we have a good chance to do some really special things this year. I don’t think they’re gonna have any reason to look in the mirror at the end of the year and say ‘I didn’t do enough.’ I don’t think there’s going to be that frustration with them because they’ve put in the time.
“If we have a lot of success this year, and I think we will, it’s going to be well-deserved.”
Following Thursday’s season opener at Bremen, Valley will play its next four games on the road against Culver Academies, Logansport, Warsaw and Maconaquah, before returning home to host the annual Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 26.
The Lady Vikings have won 19 straight TRC games and figure to challenge for a third consecutive league title.
“You look at our conference schedule, and obviously we play at Whitko,” said Kindig. “I think that game is going to be one of the keys to our conference. Can we go to Whitko and win? Obviously they have (Aly) Reiff back. We did a good job on her last year, but who knows how much better she’s gotten. We’ll have our hands full there.
“We’d like to continue our conference win streak ... it’s important to us. There’s some big games, but we’d have to be considered the favorite, I would think.”
On Dec. 29, Valley will play North Harrison in the Hall of Classic in New Castle. Greenfield-Central will play Plainfield.
Each team will play two games, as there is a consolation game and championship game in the evening.
“It’s a lot like a regional format,” said Kindig. “I appreciate that we get to play in the tournament, and that it’s in December, about halfway through the season. It’ll help us gauge where we’re at and what we need to work on.”
Coach Chris Kindig believes they should be.
The Lady Vikings, who open the season Thursday at Bremen, have gone 50-5 overall and 16-0 in the Three Rivers Conference the past two seasons. They enter the 2016-17 campaign ranked fourth in the Class 3A poll.
Two years ago, Valley won the program’s first regional title and later advanced to the state finals.
Last year, the Lady Vikings fell in the regional championship game to eventual state champ Heritage Christian.
With a wealth of talented and experienced players back from those teams, it’s easy to understand the buzz and high hopes surrounding the Lady Vikings.
“This could be our best team,” Kindig said when asked about the expectations. “I think we can go nine or 10 (players) deep. Right now I couldn’t tell you who our five starters are, and that’s a good thing. Expectations are high, and that’s the way they should be.
“I’m not gonna minimize that at all. We should be the favorite in a lot of games, but the girls really haven’t taken the attitude that they’ve got it made, or anything to that extent. They continue to work hard, and the things they’ve been able to accomplish is because they deserve it.”
Returning starters from last year’s 25-2 team include seniors Anne Secrest, Meredith Brouyette and Hannah Dunn, as well as junior Addy Miller.
Secrest, a three-time Times-Union Area Player of the Year, averaged nearly 17 points, eight rebounds, two steals, two assists and two blocks per game last year.
Brouyette made 57 three-pointers and averaged just under nine points per game a season ago, while Miller swished 55 treys and averaged eight points per contest.
Dunn averaged nearly seven points and four rebounds and dished out two assists per game.
The Lady Vikings graduated just three players from last year’s squad – Brynda Krueger, Karis Tucker and Morgan Brazo.
On Valley’s 10-player roster and expected to contribute in big ways are seniors Kilee Slone and Taneisha Brown, juniors Olivia Trippiedi and Asia O’Connor, and sophomores Sophie Bussard and Emily Peterson.
“Where we finish this year, who knows where that’s gonna be,” said Kindig. “I think we have a good chance to do some really special things this year. I don’t think they’re gonna have any reason to look in the mirror at the end of the year and say ‘I didn’t do enough.’ I don’t think there’s going to be that frustration with them because they’ve put in the time.
“If we have a lot of success this year, and I think we will, it’s going to be well-deserved.”
Following Thursday’s season opener at Bremen, Valley will play its next four games on the road against Culver Academies, Logansport, Warsaw and Maconaquah, before returning home to host the annual Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 26.
The Lady Vikings have won 19 straight TRC games and figure to challenge for a third consecutive league title.
“You look at our conference schedule, and obviously we play at Whitko,” said Kindig. “I think that game is going to be one of the keys to our conference. Can we go to Whitko and win? Obviously they have (Aly) Reiff back. We did a good job on her last year, but who knows how much better she’s gotten. We’ll have our hands full there.
“We’d like to continue our conference win streak ... it’s important to us. There’s some big games, but we’d have to be considered the favorite, I would think.”
On Dec. 29, Valley will play North Harrison in the Hall of Classic in New Castle. Greenfield-Central will play Plainfield.
Each team will play two games, as there is a consolation game and championship game in the evening.
“It’s a lot like a regional format,” said Kindig. “I appreciate that we get to play in the tournament, and that it’s in December, about halfway through the season. It’ll help us gauge where we’re at and what we need to work on.”
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092