By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Scrambling from the rubble at the bottom of the slippery slope, Bedford North Lawrence is poised to ascend the mountain once again.
Winning the Hoosier Hills Conference has always been a first-level BNL goal and standard. The Stars have won or shared 22 of those championships in program history. Challengers have risen and fallen back over time. BNL’s presence as a contender was expected and had to be accounted for by those hoping to claim the throne.
After a season of struggles, the Stars are back, one win away from earning a share of the coveted crown. It’s been a remarkable climb. Now the last obstacle to the summit is the greatest.
BNL will clash with 4A No.11 Floyd Central, one of the defending league co-champions, in a showdown for a piece of the title on Saturday afternoon. Both the Stars (14-5) and Highlanders (17-2) are 4-1 in the conference, with the winner guaranteed at least a share of the top prize. The victor could even win the entire title, if Jennings County (also 4-1) stumbles in its league finale against cellar-dwelling Columbus East. That would require a stunning upset. Part will probably have to suffice.
And for the Stars, that’s fine.
“Coming into the season, if you would have asked us if we wanted – going into the last game in the conference – a shot to win it, we would take that any day of the week,” BNL coach Chase Spreen said.
Their shot will have to be a bull’s-eye. Floyd Central, riding a 14-game winning streak, is the hottest (other than undefeated Center Grove) team in the state. After collecting the entire roster, waiting for the conclusion of volleyball, the Highlanders have been relentless. Their success is even more impressive considering their status as preseason favorites.
”We’re just starting to mesh together well and play together,” FC coach Jerry Hickey said. “The first few games, we were missing six kids. That was the biggest part of our slow start. Once they got back, we started to gel. We do have a target on our back. Last year we slid under the radar a little. This year people are looking at us as the team to beat, we’re getting everybody’s best shot every night.”
What makes Floyd almost invulnerable? It starts on the defensive end. With size and length, with three interior players at 5-10 or taller, the Highlanders consume space like black holes in the galaxy. Anything that gets too close gets drawn in and crushed by their trapping 2-3 zone. Floyd ranks third in Class 4A while allowing only 34.4 points per game, and only three teams have cracked 40 during the current win streak. Five failed to reach 30 this season.
”This team fits my philosophy of pressing and playing zone,” Hickey said. “We fit that really well. It’s the perfect makeup for a 2-3 zone. We feel like our defense travels with us every night.”
Floyd’s main weapon is 6-0 senior Elise Coleman, a Western Kentucky recruit who averages 15.4 points. She set up this first-place battle with a last-second trey to beat Jennings County 46-45 in a thriller on Tuesday night. Brinley Clark, a 5-10 senior, contributes 11.9 points, and 6-2 junior Riley Roberts lurks in the middle.
“Elise has taken on a leadership role,” Hickey said. “She’s been more outspoken. She has shown the ability to make big shots in big games, none bigger than Tuesday night. She’s a big-time player.”
“Elise is a talent, she has great skill, and she’s a confident kid,” Spreen said. “The shot she made against Jennings, you can ride a high off of that. You have to make sure she doesn’t have a career day.
“They’re obviously talented. They play so hard, with a lot of effort on both ends of the floor. They play with a sense of urgency that you have to be ready for. It’s not just their size and length, it’s how they use it. They can create a lot of problems. They’re very aggressive, they get extended and look to trap. If you’re not ready for it, it can cause a lot of havoc. We have to make sure we get the ball in the right spots.”
BNL will have to maximize production. The Stars have to count on scoring from Trinidy Bailey (11.8), Miley Sherrill (11.6) and Sammie Nusbuam (11.4). They have to neutralize Floyd’s distinct height advantage on the glass to limit second-chance points, they have to cut down turnovers to a manageable minimum.
”Floyd is one of, if not the best, the best teams we’ve played all year,” Spreen said. “It will take a great effort. But I think the girls are ready to compete.
“We have a much more clear identity of who we are. It boils down to making plays and making shots. We can identify areas to get the ball, but against a zone, if you execute and get the ball to the right spots, you will get some looks. You just have to knock them down. If we make shots, we have a good chance. If we don’t, we will be in trouble. If we take care of the ball and value each possession, that will increase our chance for success.”
BNL did none of those things well last year against the Highlanders and paid the price. Floyd dominated the regular-season game 66-31 as Coleman scored 18 points and Samara Miller added 18. The Stars were guilty of 25 turnovers and failed to score in the second quarter.
The rematch in the sectional final was closer, but Floyd ended BNL’s remarkable 13-year title streak with a 45-25 win. Clark totaled 15 points and Miller finished with 12. Sherrill paced BNL with 11 points, but turnovers (22) were still a problem. BNL has made great strides this season, proven by the record.
”They’re very fundamentally sound, they play hard-nosed defense,” Hickey said. “They have nice sets to run, and they play well together. There’s a reason their record is what it is.”
Jennings will finish its conference run at home against East on Jan. 22.
FLOYD CENTRAL at BNL
When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Records: Floyd Central 17-2 (4-1 in HHC), ranked No.11 in Class 4A; BNL 14-5 (4-1 in HHC)
Sagarin ratings: Floyd Central 91.44; BNL 76.92
Last meeting: Floyd Central swept two games from BNL last season, winning 66-31 during the regular-season meeting at Floyd and 45-25 in the sectional final at Seymour. The Stars averaged 23.5 turnovers in those two games.
Previous game story: Streak busters! Floyd ends BNL’s title run
Game notes: Floyd Central is the defending Class 4A sectional champion and defending co-champion in the HHC. The Highlanders rank third in the state in Class 4A in points allowed at 34.4. BNL will earn a share of its 23rd conference title with a victory.
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.
Floyd Central Highlanders
F – Elise Coleman 6-0 Sr.
F – Brinley Clark 5-10 Sr.
C – Riley Roberts 6-2 Jr.
G – Ava Casteel 5-7 Sr.
G – Mia Gianfanga 5-4 Sr.
