Tippecanoe Valley's Secrest Top Area Player ... Again
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Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
AKRON – The story with Anne Secrest, says Tippecanoe Valley girls basketball coach Chris Kindig, is that the 6-foot-2 junior keeps getting better. That’s good news for fans of the Lady Vikings, and not-so-good news for coaches and teams preparing to face the Youngstown State University recruit. “I think the story is kinda the same, she’s improved again,” Kindig said last week, as Secrest stayed after practice to shoot hoops while Valley’s boys team went through drills. “Every year I’ve had her, she’s taken a step up. This year, she’s a little bit more of an outside threat. She’s shooting 68 percent from the field, and 77 percent from the free throw line. “Rebounding is pretty close to where it was last year, but we’ve got some girls getting rebounds and helping her there. I’m impressed that she continues to work hard, even though maybe she’s to a point where you wonder if she’s peaked. She hasn’t peaked, and I think what you’re gonna see next year is an even better player. She’ll work hard in the offseason again, and she’ll be even better.” It’s hard to imagine Secrest being any better. And Valley’s opposition certainly doesn’t want to believe she can get better. Secrest is averaging 17 points, eight rebounds, just under three steals, two assists and nearly two blocks per game. And with Secrest, it goes beyond the numbers in the box score after each game. She is Valley’s leader, on and off the court. Kindig, who is quick to point out Youngstown State is getting not only a great player but an even better person, calls Secrest the Lady Vikings’ hardest worker. All that said, Secrest is the Times-Union Area Player of the Year for the third time. Secrest has made 151 of 221 attempts from the field this season, as well as 84 of 109 free throw attempts. She has scored 386 points this season, bringing her career total to 1,117, and pulled down 177 rebounds. Talk to Secrest about her accomplishments, however, and she’s quick to talk about her coaches and teammates. Secrest is humble and well-grounded. She talks about team goals over individual accomplishments. And when she was asked how she continues to be driven to improve when she’s already the best player in the area, Secrest quickly responded “I don’t think I’m the best. I have a lot I can improve on.” Those close to her say that’s just Anne Secrest being Anne Secrest. “I don’t see myself as the best, I see it as, yeah I may be good at some things, but there’s always something I can get better at,” said Secrest. “There’s always things to improve on, and that’s what drives me.” Since Secrest burst onto the scene as a freshman, the Lady Vikings are 59-11 overall and 21-2 in the Three Rivers Conference. After posting a 13-7 record in Secrest’s first varsity season, the Lady Vikings were 25-3 last year, a season that saw them advance to the Class 3A state finals, and are currently 21-1 heading into the 41st annual IHSAA girls state tournament. Valley has won 19 straight conference games, and the Lady Vikings are heavy favorites to win a sectional championship this week. “Anything can happen in the tournament,” said Secrest. “We have to stay focused and bring our best game every night. We know that every game teams are going to bring their best game as well. “I think it’s awesome we get to play the sectional at home. I’ve been waiting for this ... I know it’s been at NorthWood or Wawasee for a while. It’s been a while since the sectional has been here. I’m excited for our community to come out and support us, because they do such a great job supporting us. It’s really exciting.” The Lady Vikings open tournament play Tuesday when they host Wawasee, a team they beat 72-38 in a regular season game on Jan. 26. “Everyone on our team knows their role, and I think that’s what helps us gel better,” said Secrest. “Nobody is trying to do something that they aren’t supposed to do. Not one person is being a ball-hog ... we pass the ball well. “Winning the TRC was one of our goals, and we did that. We want to finish the season on a good note. We want to get as far as we can in the tournament, and keep playing well together.”
