By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – According to famous American lawyer and author Clarence Darrow, contentment is a fatal disease that kills genius. That quote suggests satisfaction is the death of ambition and growth.
Bedford North Lawrence displays all those banners clogging the northeast corner of the Fieldhouse as proof of that mantra. Like the James Bond film, maybe the world is not enough. The Stars have won multiple state championships, and more tournament trophies combined than total postseason losses, in part because of that drive. There’s been no resting on laurels.
With the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, BNL has plenty of reason for some pride. The Stars won 16 games. That’s the fourth-biggest jump (after posting only six during the regular season last year) in the state, and it’s the best single-season improvement in program history. BNL did not win the Hoosier Hills Conference or the Class 4A sectional, which were stated goals, but there was reason to smile with the quick return of competitive reputation.
When reviewing the season, that’s the first thing that jumps out. BNL was back, respected and feared. Chase Spreen, a first-year head coach with almost a decade of experience as an assistant, was the architect. He promptly credited his team.
“We knew the kids were really hungry to get back to our expectations and our way of doing things,” Spreen said. “If you have a group like that, who buys in to what we want to do, we will have some success. From a wins and losses standpoint, we were really proud of them for getting to 16 wins. That’s a really good mark and they have a lot to be proud of.
“I expect the kids to want to get better, to not be satisfied with winning 16 games. One thing we’ve never been is content, regardless of what we’ve accomplished. If you’re satisfied, this is not the place for you.”
BNL accomplished the turnaround because of veterans, with three returning starters, and a focus on the fundamentals. The Stars allowed only 40.8 points per game, and only three BNL teams in the last nine years beat that mark. They relied on balance and senior stability, led by Paige Burton and Trinidy Bailey. They fostered a team-first mindset.
”The big thing was the culture we maintained over the course of the year,” Spreen said. “It was a special group that really cared about each other, and that was the most encouraging thing to see.”
Bailey, as a three-year starter, will leave a huge void. She was asked to score (11.4), defend the opponent’s best, handle the ball (4.3 assists) and rebound (4.4). Burton was undersized in her defensive assignments but never overwhelmed in heart.
”Trinidy has done so much,” Spreen said. “She’s meant a lot to this program. Her and Paige represent exactly what it means to be a Lady Star. We fully expect some of our younger kids to step up, to step into bigger roles. But it will be really tough to replace them, and we have to have some kids buy in during the offseason.”
BNL does have building blocks for the future. Sammie Nusbaum was the team leader in scoring (11.5) and rebounding (5.0). Miley Sherrill (11.3 points, 4.9 boards), could be on her way to 1,000 career points, a list that currently includes only eight players. Jordan Blann averaged 7.0 points and hit a team-best 45 treys. That’s a start.
The key will be the readiness of sophomores Elahdy Ray and Caroline Sheldon to fill in the lineup gaps, for juniors Audrey Hoffman and Bella Warren to play vital roles, for Annie Watson to provide inside minutes, or for the incoming freshman class to push for playing time. BNL’s future, in terms of which class it will compete in next season when the IHSAA announces the new enrollment figures and designations, is still cloudy, but the way forward is crystal clear.
“We want to see the kids in the gym, working on the things they need to improve,” Spreen said. “Each kid has something to improve, to fill that void Trinidy and Paige leave.
“Depth will be the key. We have some young players that we look to take a big step. I hope they take that to heart. There’s a long time between now and next season, so they have to understand – if they want more minutes or more shots – get better. That’s what we will rely on, and we will do our best to help them.”
Spreen will not rest either. He realizes the expectations that are inherent with the BNL uniform and the chair he commands.
“Everyone immediately thinks of the basketball side, but the big thing, what was re-emphasized with me, was being reminded of the culture, how important it is to have your players invested in one another,” he said. “That’s one thing that got this group over the top. They did a good job of staying together and celebrating each other.
”We had a group that really liked each other and playing together. This group epitomized that, and that reinforced the importance of that with me. You won’t get the most out of the groups you have if you don’t have that. That was really special, and I will never forget this group for reteaching me that.”
