Shelbyville Lady Golden Bears Basketball

Sarah Laird is named to the first team and Gretchen Haehl is named to the second team All Metro South

Sports Sunday, March 18, 2001 Last Updated: Saturday, March 17, 2001 at 12:20 AM News taps tops for girls By JEFF BROWN Saturday, March 17, 2001 While posing for their pictures as the area’s top girls’ basketball players, Morristown coach Doug Carlton — this year’s girls’ coach of the year — remarked, "Can you imagine how many points those girls scored on my team this year?" Combined, it was 84 points in three games. "And most of them are coming back next season," said Carlton, shaking his head. That’s true. Including Triton Central junior Jessie Scherer, this season’s most valuable player, four of the five first-team all-county players will return next season. Only Shelbyville senior Sarah Laird will graduate. For Scherer, the top honor this season is her second straight. Laird is on the first team for the third-straight season and nearly unseated the 6-foot Tiger forward. Just two points separated the vote totals of Scherer and Laird — the two best players on the two best teams in Shelby County. Also joining the dynamic duo are Triton Central junior Kristy Gates, Southwestern junior Beth Hammond and Shelbyville freshman Gretchen Haehl. Solidifying Shelby County’s burgeoning reputation as a basketball hotbed is the fact that the second team also features four underclassmen. Morristown senior Shari Nolen graduates, but teammate Megan Lane returns for one more season. So do Shelbyville’s Susan Kolls and Waldron’s Lora Douglas as well as junior-to-be Audra Blackford. As the season progressed, Scherer, Laird, Haehl and Gates became the common-sense choices for the first team. But selecting that fifth team member was tough, and getting the nod surprised first-time first-team selection Hammond. "I really didn’t think much about it," said Hammond. "Playing for the smallest school in the county, I don’t expect much attention. But I’m glad to have some people looking at me." Not that anyone could ignore the 5-foot-8 slashing forward who broke the Southwestern single-game scoring record with a 37-point performance — the highest in the county this season — at Jac-Cen-Del Jan. 12. From there, her confidence soared, and keeping her under 20 points per game became a major challenge. Hammond, who was averaging 11.9 points per game through the first half of the year, finished averaging 15.4 points to go along with a team-high 2.8 assists. Scherer and Laird were the county’s top two scorers all season long. Scherer finished the season hitting 65 percent of her field-goal attempts and averaging county highs in points (18.5) and rebounds (8.2). Laird broke Shelbyville’s record for most 3-pointers in a career and consistently led her team in scoring (17.6), assists (3.6) and steals (2.6) this season. Laird has the second-best scoring performance in the county this season when she torched Franklin for a career-high 33 points in the sectional championship game. In the final four games of her career, Laird scored a then career-high 29 points against Morristown, hit for 29 again in the first game of the sectional and followed it with 16 and 33 as the Golden Bears finished the season 19-4. Gretchen Haehl was a dynamic point guard as a freshman. She was the second-leading scorer on her team (10.5) behind Laird and averaged 2.7 rebounds, a team-high 3.9 assists and 2.5 steals. Haehl set a career high for points (23) in Shelbyville’s win at Jennings County Jan. 16. Gates may well be the county’s most versatile player. The 5-foot-10 junior is a slashing forward similar to Hammond, but has better range and can be a vicious rebounder. Gates’ numbers back that theory. She averaged 12.1 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.8 steals. Gates was also 35 of 92 from the 3-point line and a very solid 69 percent free-throw shooter. Gates and Hammond both follow in family traditions of being all-county selections. Hammond’s sister, Jenny, was a third-teamer in both 1998 and 1999. Gates sibling Kelly was a two-time first-teamer (1999, 1998) — a feat that Kristy has now equaled and will almost surely eclipse next season. "You can’t not be happy about being selected," said Kristy Gates. "There’s not really a rivalry between me and Kelly, but we still kid about it." Only Haehl is not considering life in the college basketball world, although that time may come sooner rather than later. If a college coach were starting a program, there would be worse places to start than this five. With Haehl and Laird in the backcourt, Gates and Hammond as the forwards and Scherer at center, a lot of wins would come quickly. But for now, chances are they will scatter across the region for college. Laird is narrowing her choices down. Currently, Manchester, Tri-State and Mars Hill in North Carolina are her top choices. Scherer is leaning toward Ball State or Indiana. Hammond likes the University of Indianapolis, while Gates has given serious thought to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. None has made a decision, but there will be coaches anxiously awaiting their signatures on letters of intent next season.

Shelbyville girls won't be lacking for incentive Commentary by Steve Hanlon Indianapolis Star March 15, 2001 Shelbyville High School coach John Fair understands what a wonderful season it has been for the Golden Bears girls basketball team. For the first time in many moons, the Golden Bears were ranked in Class 3A (No. 9 in the final poll). The Bears had a deep bench, talented players and a tenacity that many football teams could use. But one thing was lacking: stepping up to get it done against top opponents. "I think we did a nice job of playing hard and getting our name out there," said Fair. "We did a lot of things we haven't done before, but we've got to start playing well in big games. That's our next step. We've got to start winning big games because we have the talent to do it." With much of the pain gone and tears dried from their upset loss to Franklin in the sectional championship game, the Bears now have something else to shoot for next season. Shelbyville was invited to participate in the 2001 City Securities Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle in December. At 10 a.m. Dec. 28, Frankfort will play Wawasee, led by girls state scoring leader Shanna Zolman, while Shelbyville will battle Jennings County in the second semifinal. Early in January, the Golden Bears beat these same Panthers 63-54, as freshman Gretchen Haehl scored 23 points; the Panthers' Jenny Pfeiffer scored 30. "It's pretty exciting, a great honor," said Haehl, who averaged 10.5 points per game and 3.9 assists. "It will be a great experience, and we'll enjoy it, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I want people to know I love the game. I work hard, and I love competing. "This will give us the experience we need, and we'll know what's out there. I was really nervous at the sectional, and I didn't play well. Hopefully, with this, we'll be able to come back next year." Center Grove experienced the Hall of Fame this past season, but got there from a different perspective. The Trojans were invited for as much of the past as they were for the present. Shelbyville is still trying to get where the Trojans are -- one of the top programs in the state every year, and getting this vote of confidence from the Hall of Fame is a great push in the right direction. But the Hall of Fame is not just about "team." This is the showcase event where the state's best players are put on display. Fair believes this is the kind of tournament that could showcase Haehl. "Gretchen was one of the top 10 freshmen in the state," he said. "If there was a better freshman point guard, I didn't see her. "We'll ask Gretchen to play more of the two (shooting guard) this year, and (twin sister) Gwen will play the point some. Gretchen had a great year, but she realized that playing varsity as a freshman was a lot harder than expected. "Against Franklin, except for Sarah Laird, it was girls playing against women. Now, we've got something to push us to get stronger this summer and to work on our games with a goal in mind." Fair has a number of talented players coming back -- juniors Susan Kolls, Ashley Matney and Ashley Cole; sophomores Katie Douglas, Allison Berger and Jessica Horner; as well as freshman Haley Wise. Fair will need to find some offense from this group with Laird's graduation, and now is the time to find the shots that weren't there during the sectional. And next December in New Castle Fieldhouse, the Golden Bears will have the state's attention as they show everyone how far their game has come. "I think it's a great deal, because I knew it was an honor to get in," said Gwen Haehl. "I look forward to it because I want to play against the best. I want to play against somebody they call great. I hope the atmosphere and excitement will help me bring my best game." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Steve Hanlon at (317) 865-4903 or via e-mail at steve.hanlon@starnews.com Copyright 2001 Indiana Newspapers Inc. • Print or e-mail this story • Click for permission to reprint • PRC# 1.2119.984637371

Last Updated: Friday, March 02, 2001 at 12:18 PM Scoring problems doom Shelbyville By JEFF BROWN Monday, February 19, 2001 at 4:00 PM GREENFIELD — Twenty-four percent shooting wasn’t in Shelbyville’s game plan for winning its first girls’ sectional basketball title since 1979. But twenty-four percent was what the Golden Bears shot from the field in the championship game Saturday against Franklin at Greenfield-Central High School. And because of that, Franklin was able to repeat as sectional champions, 59-52. The win allows Franklin (15-7) to advance to Wednesday’s regional championship game against Class 3A’s top-ranked team and the defending state champion, Indianapolis Cathedral. For Shelbyville (19-4), the loss put an end to a frustrating night. “The ball just wasn’t rolling in,” said Shelbyville coach John Fair. “The outside shots were not going. And even when we’d drive (to the basket), we couldn’t hit a shot.” The Golden Bears’ offense became too one-dimensional and against a veteran team like Franklin, it proved to be their downfall. Senior Sarah Laird, who has been one of the top scorers in the state in the month of February, tried to keep her team close after it fell behind midway through the third quarter. Laird scored all eight of her team’s third quarter points and 14 more in the fourth as the Golden Bears made a furious comeback from a 19-point deficit. When the final horn sounded, Laird led all players with a career-high 33 points. In the sectional tournament, Laird averaged 25 points per game — 10 better than what she averaged this season — and 26 over her last four games in which she set a new career-high twice and tied her career-high another time. “She’s been a great player every time we’ve played her,” said Franklin coach Walt Raines. “I tried to get my kids to get up on her and she just kept moving back a step. They wanted to know just how far out they needed to go to guard her.” If the Lady Grizzly Cubs didn’t step out to the 3-point line on Laird, she would burn them. If they ventured a little too close, she would drive around them to the lane or wind up on the free throw line shooting foul shots. The problem was for the Golden Bears, after the first quarter, Laird was the only player scoring consistently. Shelbyville took a 13-5 lead at the end of the foul-plagued first quarter — courtesy of hitting 8 of 12 free throw attempts — and was already in the double-bonus situation after the Lady Grizzly Cubs were whistled for nine fouls and Raines received a technical foul. But that technical foul seemed to jolt Franklin into gear and Fair knew, at that point, the game was far from over. “We had a couple of times there where we could have gotten the lead to 10 (points) but we couldn’t do it,” Fair said. “I thought when Walt got that tech, the whole game was going to be more tightly called.” And it was. At halftime, the teams combined for 28 fouls and 34 free throw attempts. A 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the second quarter by Laird, gave the Golden Bears the lead, 21-20, at halftime. Fair predicted the rebounding battle would be a key point to the title game after Shelbyville beat Whiteland Friday. In the first half, the half in which the Golden Bears led, Shelbyville outrebounded a bigger, taller Franklin team 16-10. The gameplan started unraveling in the third quarter, when Franklin started attacking. “Early on, we didn’t do a good job of blocking out or taking care of the ball,” said Raines. “And we didn’t attack the post.” In the crucial third quarter, Shelbyville was a mere 2 of 10 from the field, while Franklin was 8 of 12 while outrebounding the Golden Bears 10-1. By the time the quarter ended, Shelbyville’s one-point lead became a 10-point deficit and a bigger problem was emerging — foul trouble. First center Katie Douglas was whistled for her fourth foul then Jenni Ross and finally Gretchen Haehl. With the fouls mounting on key players, Shelbyville had to be careful on defense all the while attacking to whittle what had become a 50-31 lead with 3:48 left in the game. Over the next three minutes, Shelbyville forced the pace of the game, and with Franklin playing not to lose, cut the lead to nine points with 56 seconds left. The Lady Grizzly Cubs would need to be solid from the free throw line to get out of Greenfield alive. Franklin hit 8 of 15 fourth-quarter free throws but just 5 of 8 in the last minute of regulation. A Katie Haney free throw with 51 seconds left pushed the lead back to 10 for Franklin. Laird tried a 3-pointer but missed. Teammate Allison Berger grabbed the rebound and fed Laird who was streaking to the goal for a quick score and a foul. With the free throw, the Golden Bears trailed by seven with 40 seconds left. Hitting 1 of 2 free throws, Franklin’s Laura Bullington increased the lead back to eight. Another score from Laird cut the lead to six with 18 seconds left. Laird was forced to foul after the score — her fifth — and the senior’s career came to a teary end. “It’s a tough loss but we’re trying to build a tradition tonight,” said Fair. “This will be something to stress for next year so we can win this type of game whether its in the post-season or regular season.”

Lady Golden Bears whip Whiteland By JEFF BROWN Saturday, February 17, 2001 at 8:00 AM GREENFIELD — Athletic ability and skill will carry a basketball team only so far. That's when mental preparation and experience becomes key. After defeating Greenfield-Central Tuesday in a quarterfinal sectional game, the Golden Bears found a newspaper article taped to their locker room door the next day. The story detailed how Class A Southwestern went to Whiteland one week earlier and defeated the Class 3A Warriors. Shelbyville coach John Fair didn't want his Golden Bears to underestimate Whiteland — their sectional semifinal opponent Friday — a team they had beaten by 19 points earlier in the season. Then, when Purdue lost to Ohio State on an offensive rebound and score with no time left on the clock, another newspaper article found its way onto the door with the words “You better block out” scribbled on it. All of that factored into the psychological warfare of being ready for state tournament action. And Shelbyville seemed to take the words to heart. There was no lackluster effort to begin the game. The Golden Bears were only outrebounded, 33-31, and Whiteland junior All-State candidate Megan Liffick was never able to dominate the game the way Shelbyville senior Sarah Laird did. Laird tied her career-high with 29 points — even though she scored just three points in the fourth quarter — as the Golden Bears held off a stubborn Whiteland squad, 74-61. With the win, Shelbyville (19-3) advances to tonight's Sectional 26 championship game against Franklin (13-7), a 50-45 winner over Rushville (5-16) in the other semifinal game at Greenfield-Central High School Friday. Shelbyville's love of the jump shot — one that never seemed to consistently find the mark — allowed Whiteland to take a 33-30 halftime lead. “We got on them at halftime about settling for the jump shot,” said Shelbyville coach John Fair. “I told them we have to drive the basketball. When we drive the basketball, we're a pretty good team.” And then there's that vaunted Shelbyville full-court, trapping defense. Fair chose to apply nothing more than token pressure in the first half. By the time the third quarter began, the defense was unleashed. Whiteland committed four turnovers in the first minute of the second half which allowed the Golden Bears to recapture the lead. A Whiteland timeout slowed the Shelbyville momentum, albeit temporarily. After a Liffick baseline drive and score, the Golden Bears scored the next 11 points to finally take control of the game. “Shelbyville turned up the pressure in the third quarter and we didn't respond,” said Whiteland coach Alan Weems. “I think we used a lot of energy in the first half playing so well. We needed to rise to the challenge (in the second half) but Shelbyville's defensive pressure was very good.” It was Laird and Susan Kolls that combined to score all 11 points in the run. Laird would finish the third quarter with 14 points — five more than the Warriors would score — as Shelbyville outscored Whiteland, 24-9, in the quarter. Kolls would finish with 12 points off the bench. Gretchen Haehl added 10 points and seven assists. Jenni Ross grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Liffick, who averaged just over 22 points per game this season, finished with 23 points and seven rebounds. Summer Vick scored 17 points and had eight rebounds for Whiteland. Shelbyville needs one more win to erase a 21-year drought without a sectional title. No matter the opponent, Fair points to one key for tonight's game — rebounding. “The big thing is we have to rebound,” he said. “We need to be a little more aggressive. Everyone tends to stand around and watch Sarah and Gretchen shoot. We can't afford to stand around.”