Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY - It is media day at Whitko, and Ray Davis walks across the gym floor over to a couple of reporters. He hands them each an eight-page media guide on his high school girls' basketball team, explaining that he had a little free time on his hands.
Davis, an instant hit with the reporters, even made up a cover page, which reads "The Unknown Wildcats."
"We picked that (title) this summer," he said. "We have eight sophomores on the varsity. There's not too many other teams in the state that have eight sophomores on their varsity."
And not too many start four sophomores, a possible Whitko lineup. Only two starters are set: sophomore Kelly Osborn at point guard and senior Melissa Sands at center. Osborn led the team with four assists a game as a freshman starter. Sands tallied 10 points and seven rebounds a game.
After that, Davis could start sophomore guards Stephanie Warner and Trisha Peters and sophomore forward Brieann Starkweather. Four sophomore starters.
Or, he could go Osborn, Sands, senior Tina Osborn (shooting guard), senior Susan Dome (forward) and sophomore Tisha Rowland (guard).
Decisions, decisions.
Whitko's junior varsity team was 12-6 last year, but Davis points out they lost three games by four points or less.
"That varies them at 15-3," Davis said.
The experience is there, but it's not there at the same time. If that makes any sense.
"We have a lot of basketball experience," Davis explained. "We just don't have a lot of game experience on the varsity level.
"It will help us and hurt us. It will help us because they won't know what to expect, so I don't think they'll be scared. Being able to handle pressure will hurt us. Teams that press us a lot. I think they will be able to handle the press, but they'll have to be able to recognize certain areas. That will come."
It didn't take the Wildcats long to realize that this is Sands' team. She takes the team by the scruff of the neck and leads it, and that pleases Davis.
"These girls have realized she's our leader on the floor, offensively and defensively," he said.
Sands was an enigma last year. She began last season as a starter, but foul problems made her the sixth man.
It worked. Sands stayed out of foul trouble and averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds as a reserve. An overjoyed Davis proclaimed he picked up a new player during the middle of the season.
Davis already told her before this season no way, no how could she be a reserve on this team. She listened and adjusted. Davis says she is playing much smarter defense.
"She can't come off the bench for us this year," he said. "There may be games she can't come off the floor."
Opposing teams double-teamed Rachel Brown, Whitko's career scoring and rebounding leader, last year. Davis expects the same to happen to Sands this year.
"Everybody forgot about Melissa," he said. "This year, Melissa will be their focal point. Some of our other girls will benefit, just like Melissa did in the past."
A newspaper reporter recently told Davis that most of the other Three Rivers Conference coaches liked his team and his super sophomores to win the division, something Whitko has never done. Davis said his Wildcats are one of five that could win the wide-open race.
"One reason they're picking us is we have Valley, Northfield and North Miami at home," Davis said. "We play the traditionally strong teams at home.
"I honestly believe if our girls can handle things early, we'll be in the race at the end. We play four conference games early. If we can get through those, then we will get more experience for the other teams at the end of the year."
This team believes it's good.
"They have more of a killer instinct than what we had last year," Davis said. "Last year, when we had teams down, we couldn't always put them away. These girls, they come in for two hours of practice, and it's blood. There's no friends then. When practice is over, then they're friends."
1996-97 Whitko roster
Name Pos. Ht. Yr.
Tina Osborn G 5-5 12
Brittany Waybright G 5-6 11
Kelly Osborn G 5-6 10
Trisha Peters G 5-6 10
Shana Miner C 5-11 10
Meghan Sautter G 5-6 10
Stephanie Warner F 5-9 10
Susan Dome F 5-9 12
Tisha Rowland G 5-7 10
Stephanie Moore F 5-8 10
Brieann Starkweather C 5-11 10
Melissa Sands C 6-0 12
Heidi Hull F 5-9 11
1996-97 Whitko schedule
Nov. 21 CENTRAL NOBLE
Nov. 23 WHITKO INVITE
Nov. 27 at Columbia City
Dec. 3 NORTHFIELD
Dec. 5 at Manchester
Dec. 11 at Oak Hill
Dec. 14 CHURUBUSCO
Dec. 17 at Homestead
Dec. 19 at Southwood
Jan. 9 NORTH MIAMI
Jan. 11 WABASH
Jan. 14 WARSAW
Jan. 16 at Rochester
Jan. 18 at Huntington 4-way
Jan. 23 at Wawasee
Jan. 25 at Warsaw 4-way
Jan. 28 BLUFFTON
Jan. 30 TIPPECANOE VALLEY
Feb. 1 at West Noble
