By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – From a slow simmer in the schedule crock pot, Bedford North Lawrence will switch burners to the high-heat frying pan.
After playing only once in 20 days, the Stars now face four games in less than 36 hours. If the Stars have any holiday lethargy or idle laziness to burn off, this is their chance. It’s another wild extreme challenge, like the high school basketball version of Hardwood Survivor, that will require physical endurance and mental preparation on short notice.
BNL will compete in the two-day, 12-team Lady Eagles Holiday Tournament at Austin on Monday and Tuesday. The Stars (8-3 with three straight wins) will tangle with Jasper (8-4 with its own three-game streak) in the first game of pool play at noon on Monday, then face Lanesville (6-7) in the second game at 3 p.m.
The second-day schedule depends on the results from the first. BNL could face either Jeffersonville (5-7), Class A No.4 Trinity Lutheran (8-1) or Paoli (4-7) in its third game on Tuesday, with the final opponent to be determined.
“We’re jumping right back into it,” BNL coach Chase Spreen said. “We spent some time recovering, but we still got after it and focused on the things we needed to improve on. We feel like we did that. The girls are fresh and itching to play again, excited to get going.”
The first obstacle is Jasper, guided by a former BNL assistant. Brittany Maners spent two seasons with the Stars, helping BNL win the 2013 Class 4A state title, before moving on as head coach with Evansville Central and Princeton.
“We’re excited for an opportunity to play such a tradition-rich program as BNL,” Maners said. “A special piece of my heart will always be there, giving me my first opportunity to fall in love with coaching. I was fortunate to learn from some of the greatest to ever do it in my short two-year stint at BNL.”
Her Wildcats have claws, especially on the defensive end. They have held two opponents under 15 points this season (allowing 38.6 overall, with three mercy-rule wins), and they have a trio of offensive weapons in senior guard Ayla Elkins (12.3), senior Emily Kleiser (10.8) and senior Brooke Kleiser (10.6).
“Jasper is a real tough matchup for us,” Spreen said. “They’re physical, so we have to be ready on both ends of the floor, to be strong and play through that.”
The Stars will counter with its own balanced scoring attack of senior Trinidy Bailey (11.5, plus 4.2 assists), Sammie Nusbaum (11.5) and Miley Sherrill (10.6 plus 4.8 boards).
In the second contest, Lanesville is in restructuring mode after winning back-to-back Class A state titles in 2023-24. Veteran coach Jamie Kolkmeier took over the program after Angie Hinton finished off her tenure with a 20-4 season and sectional title last year.
“We have lot of new faces for Lanesville on the court this season, and we are working through those growing pains,” Kolkmeier said. “We have a great group of young people who have had stretches of good basketball. We have had difficulty with maintaining consistency.
“If we can lower our turnovers and get some of our good shots to go down, our defense will allow us to be competitive.”
The Eagles have struggled to score, falling short of the 35-point mark six times, and they have no player averaging in double figures. Their leaders are freshman Mallory Kelton (8.8 off the bench), Libby Saier (8.3) and Ava Sigler (7.5).
BNL’s depth will be tested with four games in the event. The final two rounds – other than Jeffersonville, which BNL already conquered – will be against unfamiliar opponents with no time to scout and adjust.
“It will be a challenge,” Spreen said. “We will do the best we can to get ready. Every team will be in the same boat. It’s whoever can prepare and execute the best on a short turnaround.”
Other teams competing in the event include Class A No. 9 Springs Valley (9-2), Class 2A No.15 Austin (8-5), Switzerland County (5-5), West Washington (7-6), South Dearborn (1-12) and Shawe Memorial (6-3).
LADY EAGLE HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Pool Play
BNL vs. JASPER
When: Monday, noon
Records: BNL 8-3; Jasper 8-4
Sagarin ratings: BNL 81.69; Jasper 76.72
Last meeting: During the 2021-22 season, the Stars cruised to a 60-31 win. Chloe Spreen had 17 points and Karsyn Norman added 15 for BNL. Jasper was guilty of 29 turnovers.
Previous game story: Stars coast to finish line
Game notes: Jasper coach Brittany Maners is a former BNL assistant coach who helped the Stars win the 2013 Class 4A state championship. BNL has won seven straight games in the series with Jasper by an average of 28 points.
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.
Jasper Wildcats
F – Emily Kleiser 5-9 Sr.
F – Brooke Kleiser 5-11 Sr.
F – Lila Schmitt 5-9 Jr.
G – Ella Clark 5-6 Sr.
G – Ayla Elkins 5-7 Sr.
BNL vs. LANESVILLE
When: Monday, 3 p.m.
Records: BNL 8-3; Lanesville 6-7
Sagarin ratings: BNL 81.69; Lanesville 53.74
Last meeting: During the 2020-21 season opener, the Stars smacked Lanesville 63-38 in the series debut. Chloe Spreen had 20 points for BNL. Gracie Adams had 12 points for the Eagles.
Previous game story: BNL plagues Lanesville
Game notes: Lanesville won the 2023 and 2024 Class A state championships under former coach Angie Hinton. Lanesville coach Jamie Kolkmeier previously coach the North Harrison girls and Corydon boys programs.
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 5-2 Sr.
Lanesville Eagles
F – A.J. James 5-7 Sr.
F – Alli Campbell 5-8 Sr.
G – Libby Saier 5-7 Sr.
G – Ava Simler 5-5 Jr.
G – Madelyn Magner 5-2 Sr.
