By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – During his energetic Indiana University career, A.J. Moye was an Assembly Hall favorite son, a Georgia native who became an adopted Hoosier. They rhythmically chanted his name. “A..J..Moy..Yea” echoed repeatedly, and he repaid the love by giving everything he possibly could, body and soul, on the court.
Indiana fans have long memories for their heroes. Moye was a key member of Indiana’s last Final Four team in 2002, authoring one of the iconic individual plays in Hoosier history with a great block in the upset of No.1 Duke during that tournament run.
He still wears red. But he might not receive the same welcome when he steps inside BNL Fieldhouse. Loyalty only buys so much where unconditional love for the Lady Stars is concerned. For the moment, Moye will be a frien-emy on the opposing sideline.
Moye will lead an enemy force into battle with Bedford North Lawrence when Hoosier Hills Conference rivals collide on Tuesday night. When he first arrived at Jeffersonville, he was the new athletic director. Then Jeff coach Taylor Sykes abruptly resigned on Dec. 1, just six games into her third year with the program. With the unexpected emergency situation, Moye appointed himself as interim coach, probably not what he signed up for when he took the original job.
Despite little prep time, Moye has made an immediate impact, guiding the Devils (3-5 overall, 1-1 in the HHC) to a stunning road win over Floyd Central – the defending league co-champion and sectional winner – in their last outing. If the talented Devils were guilty of underachieving during their sluggish start, that changed with the 50-47 statement win over the Highlanders.
”It’s real cool, the fact I get to give back in that way, to see those girls grow and get better,” Moye said. “They are my reward. I don’t need praise or anything written about me, it’s about seeing them get better, seeing them understand that if you work toward a goal, work with diligence and care, with purposeful intent, you can accomplish almost anything you put your mind to.”
Moye’s basketball career was a testament to that creed. He averaged 5.9 points in a reserve role for the ‘02 Hoosiers, finished by totaling 10.4 as a senior in 2004. His shining moment came against Duke in the ‘02 tournament, when his legendary block of a Carlos Boozer shot ignited IU to a Sweet 16 triumph. He later played six professional seasons in Europe.
That part of his life ended after he suffered a stroke in 2010. Doctors discovered a congenital heart defect that required surgery. He remained active in the game, coming to Jeffersonville after a stint as an assistant at Valparaiso.
The Red Devils have gone through their own adversity. Moye is the fourth head coach in the last five years. He’s taking it one day at a time.
“Each day, you want to build,” Moye said. “I have this mantra that I wrote in middle school, that ‘A day at a time is how I stay on my grind. I’m the sun after the moon, I just wake up and shine. Yesterday can’t ever say it has a place in my mind, because it’s a day at a time.’ It’s a mentality thing, and I have passed that along to the girls. Hopefully I can inspire some of them to do cool things, not just in basketball but in life.
”These girls are sharp, they have caught on to the stuff I was bringing. Coach Taylor coached these girls up to the fullest, she deserves a lot of credit. They are all about the right stuff. They have made it real smooth.”
Jeffersonville will feature offensive weapons in senior Maizy Smith (12.2 points, 9.0 rebounds), sophomore Makenna Taylor (12.0 points) and sophomore Alicia Mangrum (13.3). The Devils also will have 6-0 senior Kiya Boatwright back after she missed seven games with an injury.
“They’re super talented,” BNL coach Chase Spreen said. “Top to bottom, maybe the most talented roster we will play all year. They have Division I kids, they are athletic. They’re playing hard for him, which is huge. We have to make sure we’re ready to go, because they will play with a lot of effort.“
BNL will counter with three double-digits scorers in Trinidy Bailey (10.8), Miley Sherrill (10.6) and Sammie Nusbaum (11.0 after a career-high 25 in the win at New Albany). The Stars (6-3 overall, 2-0 atop the league standings) are coming off their best overall performance of the year. They will need to duplicate that.
“The big thing for us will be rebounding,” Spreen said. “As long we’re engaged like we were at New Albany, force them into tough shots and limit the second-chance opportunities, we will give ourselves a chance.”
Moye is unfamiliar with the series history, and he’s in catch-up mode to scour tape and scout the Stars. He knows BNL from his interaction with Damon Bailey (“My big brother,” Moye said with a laugh) and his fan-base knowledge of former Miss Basketball Chloe Spreen, now a Hoosier. He’s looking forward to his first visit to BNL Fieldhouse as an opposing coach.
“I love the nostalgia with the gymnasium,” he said. “I love walking through and taking in the history. There have been some many great players came through the state of Indiana.”
Jeffersonville won last year’s clash 46-30. The Stars suffered through a horrendous offensive night, converting only 10 of 43 shots and coughing up 21 turnovers. Dansby paced the Devils with 14 points as Jeffersonville ended a seven-game losing streak in the series.
JEFFERSONVILLE at BNL
When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Jeffersonville 3-5 (1-1 in HHC); BNL 6-3 (2-0 in HHC)
Sagarin ratings: Jeffersonville 81.85; BNL 73.96
Last meeting: Last year at Jeffersonville, the Red Devils stopped the Stars 46-30. Kelis Dansby scored 13 points for Jeffersonville. BNL hit only 10 of 43 shots and totaled 21 turnovers. Katie Godlevske had 9 points for the Stars.
Previous game story: Devils too hot for cold-shooting Stars
Game notes: Jeffersonville’s win last season ended BNL’s 7-game winning streak in the series. Taylor Sykes resigned as head coach after guiding the Devils to a 2-4 start this year. She was 25-27 in two-plus years at the helm.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Sammie Nusbaum 5-10 Jr.
F – Miley Sherrill 5-9 Jr.
G – Trinidy Bailey 5-7 Sr.
G – Jordan Blann 5-2 Jr.
G – Paige Burton 5-3 Sr.
Jeffersonville Red Devils
F – Maizy Smith 5-10 Sr.
F – Kiya Boatright 6-0 Sr.
C – ALicia Mangram 6-0 So.
G – Makenna Taylor 5-7 So.
G – Kelis Dansby 5-7 Sr.
