BOURBON - Second-year Triton High School girls basketball coach Adam Heckaman has a lot of holes to fill from last year's 7-15 team.
Graduated from that team are Paige Davis, Bethany Lemler, Kelsey Bessinger, Taryn Cooper and Kayla Tutorow, all of whom started at one point or another, as well as Bethany Shively.With those six girls gone, Heckaman must replace 66 percent of the team's scoring, 46 percent of the rebounding, 69 percent of the assists and 63 percent of last season's steals.
"We have a lot of spots to fill this year," he said. "We have a lot of juniors, but not a lot of returning with time on the varsity team."
Heckaman's top two returnees are seniors Brittany Wallace and Amanda Miller.
As juniors, Wallace averaged five points and four rebounds, while Miller put up four points and three boards a game.
The other senior returning to this year's team is Savannah Stutzman, while juniors Aubrey Boardman, Hannah Downing and Sarah Stichter also return with limited varsity experience along with sophomore Megan Howdeshell.
"She really came around late last season," Heckaman said of Howdeshell. "She's dealing with an injury right now, but we hope to get her some significant time."
Another junior joining this year's Trojans team is Allison Thacker, a move-in from Tippecanoe Valley.
While a Viking, Thacker averaged six points a game, connecting on 34 percent of her three-point field goals.
"She's fitting in really well," Heckaman said of Thacker. "She adds an extra dimension and is pushing the rest of the girls for playing time."
And while the rest of the girls may not be heavy on playing experience, they are experienced with Heckaman's style of play.
"These girls have been playing under the system for a year now," he said. "Last year was a learning curve. They learned a lot last year."
Heckaman says 12 to 13 girls are competing for spots on the team, including juniors Aundrea Sellers, Lindsey Ganshorn, Emily Duff; sophomore Sydney Gochnour and freshman Shana Anderson.
With so many inexperienced girls competing for spots, Heckaman is looking to his three seniors for leadership.
"Those three know what's needed," Heckaman said about Wallace, Miller and Stutzman.
And with enough leadership, the Triton coach is optimistic about his team's chances in the Northern State Conference.
"It's a tough conference," he said. "Our big goal will be in each game at the end."
Triton opens its season Friday at North Judson before visiting Oregon-Davis Saturday and holding its home-opener Nov. 17 against Argos.
"We want to be a better team and get better with each game," Heckaman said.
