Aylsworth
Managing Editor
If
you want quality girls basketball, look no further than the Metropolitan
Interscholastic Conference. Five of the league’s eight schools have won state
titles, with a pair of them (North Central (Indianapolis) and Ben Davis) having
done it twice.
This
league, which finished with a state-best .818 winning percentage (99-22) against
other conferences a year ago, is a meat grinder. An amazing five schools
finished in the ICGSA’s Class 4A Top 10 last season: Ben Davis (first),
Lawrence North (third), Carmel (fifth), North Central (sixth), and Terre Haute
South (ninth).
And
the league also produced the 4A state champion, although it was Carmel that got
hot at the right time instead of large-school favorite Ben Davis. The
Greyhounds reeled off eight straight wins – including a shocking 56-45 regional
championship upset of Ben Davis – that culminated with an 84-72 thumping of
South Bend Washington in the state finals.
So
can the MIC match its fantastic season of a year ago? Let’s find out!
Top
teams
Ben Davis
What
to say about Ben Davis? The Giants, the sure-fire favorite to win last year’s
4A state title, return all five starters from a team that went 24-2 and shared
conference champion honors with North Central. Ranked No. 1 in both the Indiana
Coaches of Girls Sports Association (atop 4A) and the Indiana Basketball
Coaches Association (all four classes combined) polls, BD is an even bigger
favorite to go all the way this season.
And
for good reason. If ever there was a squad to be up to that challenge, it’s
this one.
Still, the MIC’s most-tenured coach, Ben Davis’
Stan Benge, said one of his team’s goals will be trying to get better every
game.
“The conference should be the toughest in the
state,” said Benge, now entering his 24th season on Indy’s westside.
“We have everybody back, so we will have a big target on our back.”
Four
players – 5’7” senior guard Alex Bentley (Penn State), 6’0”
junior guard Dorothy “Dee-Dee” Williams (Purdue), 5’10” senior forward DeAirra
Goss (Western Michigan),
and 5’9” senior reserve forward Emily Huber (Ava Marie) – will head off to
play college ball when they’ve hung up their purple jerseys. Bentley, a 5’7”
senior guard capable of single-handedly taking over games with her kinetic
energy, and Goss, a 5’10” senior forward, were all-conference selections.
All
five starters return, so imagine the focus and cohesiveness – especially when
the Giants get a chance for revenge at their two conquerors, North Central and
Carmel. (BD was playing its fifth game in eight days in a 57-50 loss at the
former, and the Giants’ regional loss to eventual state
champion Carmel sent shockwaves through the state.)
Starting
lineup:
G Sr 5’7” Alex Bentley (15.0 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.6 spg)
F Sr 5’10” DeAirra Goss (10.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
G Jr 6’0’ Dorothy “Dee-Dee” Williams (3.9 apg)
F Jr 5’11” Vivian Holcomb (6.1 rpg, 2.0 spg)
F So 5’10” Bria Goss (10.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg,
3.1 spg)
Key reserves:
G Jr 5’7” Jordan Huber
F Sr 5’9” Emily Huber
F Jr 5’8” Demetria Nunley
G So 5’4” Janee’ Kimball
C Fr 6’2” Shawnece Teague
G Fr 5’9” Brionna Arnold
G Sr 5’7” Chanel Simmons
Factoids:
Ben
Davis will compete in the seven-team Avon Sectional with Brownsburg, Decatur
Central, Indianapolis Manual, Indianapolis Tech, Pike, and the host Orioles …
the Giants finished No. 1 in final Class 4A coaches’ poll and first overall in
the combined IBCA poll a year ago … BD had the state’s fifth-best record at
24-2last season … Ben Davis was the 4A state champion in back-to-back seasons
in 2000 and 2001
W: Preseason coaches poll released, five MIC teams have top 25
Posted on 13 November 2008 by .
The Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association has released the preseason polls. Five MIC teams have players ranked in the top 25: Center Grove (6), Lawrence North (3), Warren Central (2), Ben Davis (1), Carmel (1). Several teams had players receive votes, but not enough to start out ranked. For a complete look at the polls, including names and weight classes, visit our state page.
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