SOUTH WHITLEY — It’s been a season filled with injuries for the Whitko Lady Wildcats, but those won’t matter much when the Class 3A Sectional 23 tips off at Mississinewa High School Tuesday. Little did second-year Whitko coach Brandon Bradley know that losing his top post player, junior Bailee Juillerat, in the second game of the season would just be the beginning for his team. Broken ankles, sprained ankles, illnesses, broken kneecaps, a broken wrist and concussions have hampered the Lady Wildcats, but the injury bug just doesn’t stop biting. “(Senior center) Jordan Hall and (senior point guard) Cagney Craig have been playing the whole season through stress fractures,” Bradley said. “(Sophomore) Aly Nicodemus and (sophomore) Maddie Gawthrop now have stress fractures that they’re playing through. We only have, maybe, three girls that are completely healthy.” Whitko did welcome back junior Kelly Reiff and sophomore Reghan Craig for Thursday’s regular-season finale against Lakeland Christian Academy, but that win only helped the Lady Wildcats improve to 7-13 on the year. Despite the seven wins, Bradley is looking at the positives. “Between playing a tough schedule, graduating as much as we graduated – both with experience and statiscally – then with the experience we did return, we’ve had injuries,” he said. “I think we’re a real resilent group. We have the physical talent to compete with anyone on a given night.” Sectional 23 begins with host Mississinewa taking on fifth-ranked Norwell Tuesday at 6 p.m., followed by Bellmont against Heritage. Receiving a first-round bye, Whitko will take on the winner of the Bellmont/Heritage game Friday at 7:30 p.m., which is a plus for Bradley. “Last year, both games we played were at 6 (p.m.),” Bradley said. “As soon as school let out, we had to quickly get on the bus to head down to give us plenty of time to get ready.” He knows he likes what time his team will play Friday, but he’s not sure which team he’d rather face. “Bellmont is unfortunate to be in the (Northeast Hoosier Conference), but then also play a lot of (Summit Athletic Conference) schools,” Bradley said. “They may be only 4-15, but they’ve played a tougher schedule than we have and I think we play a tough schedule. “Heritage is a very young team,” he added. “They have two sophomores who have started since they were freshmen. They have a six-foot sophomore who can really shot the ball and a 5-6 point guard, who’s the coach’s daughter and has a high basketball IQ. They also have good junior and senior role players.” For Whitko, senior Josie Sparks has been Bradley’s most reliable player. “Josie Sparks has been our most consistent player,” he said. “Never super spectacular, but at the same time, never bad. She’s spectacular in the way she’s so consistent.” On the year, Sparks is averaging 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per games. Four-year starter Cagney Craig, a 2012-13 Times-Union All-Area Second-Team selection, has led the Lady Wildcats with 9.6 points per game, as well as 4.7 assists and 3.3 steals. In the post, the 6-foot Hall has averaged 8.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
