By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – If the purpose of the IHSAA sanctioned scrimmage is exposing potential problems and weaknesses, against a quality opponent, prior to the start of the regular season, then everything worked out perfectly for Bedford North Lawrence.
That’s the positive spin. The reality, after a solid first quarter, was much more stark as Columbus North shed light on all the issues BNL must address as it heads into the 2026-27 season opener. There’s a long way to go and a short time to get there.
The Bull Dogs were the bandits, as the Stars watched them run away to an 88-51 difference in the four scripted quarters of action on Tuesday night. North was especially dominant in the second half, converting costly turnovers into uncontested points during a 20-0 burst in the third quarter and a 14-0 run in the fourth.
Columbus North was equipped to take advantage of BNL’s problems. The Bull Dogs went 19-7 last season and won a sectional title, and they had firepower with senior guard Ava Wilson (who scored 29 points) leading five double-digit scorers. When the scrimmage rules allowed for full-court pressure in the second half, that’s when BNL’s ballhandling suffered.
“When we’re able to pick up our pressure and do some of the things we want to do during the year, we were able to get some easy shots,” North coach Brett White said. “We’re a team that goes in spurts.”
Most certainly. That first blast included treys from Kaylie Harmon and Bella Slate, but most of it was six layups following BNL miscues. Wilson had four of them as North exploded to a 22-2 lead in that period before Jordynn Blann ended the run with a trey.
In the fourth, BNL battled to a 14-14 deadlock before the Dogs growled again. Chloe Somers started it with a three-point play, Wilson turned a steal into a breakaway, Slate swished another bomb, and Riley Sims sliced to a layup.
“I like the aggressiveness we played with,” White said. “As the game went on, we picked up the pressure.”
What was there to like about BNL? Miley Sherrill was an offensive force, erupting for 30 points. She stroked two treys as the Stars won the first quarter 15-14 (with required man-to-man defense). She added 11 points in the second quarter (with mandated zone defense).
“Miley did a really nice job, stepping up and making shots,” BNL coach Chase Spreen said. “She got confident. When she’s confident, it bodes well for us. It’s about getting people to go with her – which we will. It was Miley’s night, and she will have a lot of good nights for us this year.”
What was there to not like? The turnovers were obvious. BNL shot poorly against the zone and never really recovered from that, and North flexed muscle in the rebounding battles. Blann, all 5-foot-2 of her, had nine boards for the Stars. That’s a good and bad sign.
“Jordynn always competes, she plays her butt off and she will track down rebounds like that,” Spreen said. “The others have to step up and take initiative in that regard. What I noticed was a lot of standing and not pursuing the basketball.”
Elahdy Ray added nine points for BNL. Syndi Schiefer had 13 points for North, Sims and Somers totaled 10, and Slate added 14 for the Bull Dogs.
“My concern is our shot selection,” Spreen said. “We did not recognize the fact we needed to be more patient and execute. We’ve talked a lot about that. We’re shooting way too many quick shots. We’re not a team that can depend on one-pass possessions, 60 percent of the time. We have to rely on execution and getting good shots.
“I could care less about how many shots we miss, as long as we’re executing. What I’m upset about is not recognizing what we needed to get into when we’re not making shots. We’re led by several seniors, so we have to figure that out. We can’t be a team that’s impatient.
“We will be fine, this group will win a lot of games. But we won’t unless we fix those things. Hopefully this rattles their cages a little bit.”
BNL will host Sullivan in the season opener on Thursday night.
COLUMBUS NORTH 88, BNL 51
BNL – Elahdy Ray 9, Miley Sherrill 30, Sammie Nusbaum 5, Jordynn Blann 3, Caroline Sheldon 4
Columbus North – Syndi Schiefer 13, Riley Sims 10, Ava Wilson 29, Chloe Somers 10, Bella Slate 14, Claire Finney 4, Avery Johnson 2, Kaylie Harmon 6
