New Pal senior signs with Taylor
New Palestine senior Haley Stratman signed her letter of intent to continue her basketball career at Taylor University.
The 5-foot-11 forward averaged 6.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game for the Dragons in 2014-15. She scored a season-high 15 points last season against Franklin Central and knocked down 40 3-pointers in 24 games.
Stratman helped the team post a 12-12 record in coach Brian Kehrt’s second season.
As a sophomore, she averaged 7.9 points and 3.2 rebounds through 20 games to lead the program in scoring.
At Taylor, she will play for coach Kelly Packard in the NAIA’s Crossroads League.
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Royals athletes have record days
Eastern Hancock junior Kaysi Gilbert set a new school record for aces in a volleyball game this past weekend.
Gilbert fired 11 total against Indianapolis Tindley during the Eastern Hancock Invitational. The previous record was eight set by Hannah Best in 2012.
Freshman Taylor Stine was the individual girls cross-country winner in the Gold Division of the Delta Eagle Invitational this past Saturday. Her time of 20:27 placed her fifth on the girls all-time list for 5K performances in program history.
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Pacers announce Hickory Nights
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers will wear their NBA Pride Hickory Huskers uniforms for 10 games this upcoming season, tipping off a season-long tribute to Indiana basketball as symbolized by the Academy Award–winning movie, “Hoosiers.”
The Hickory uniforms will be worn during six home games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, beginning with a nationally televised (ESPN) matchup against the Miami Heat on Friday, Nov. 6.
To celebrate “Hickory Nights,” the Pacers will recognize individuals, teams and communities that have a significant place in Indiana basketball history.
The scheduled Hickory Nights and honorees are:
– Nov. 6 vs. Miami – The City of Crawfordsville: Birthplace of Indiana basketball and also home to the first Indiana High School Athletic Association state championship team.
– Dec. 23 vs. Sacramento – Jack Butcher, Loogootee: winningest head coach in Indiana high school basketball history.
– Jan. 26 vs. L.A. Clippers – George Daniel Crowe, Franklin: Indiana’s first Mr. Basketball award winner in 1939 and brother of legendary Indianapolis Crispus Attucks coach Ray Crowe.
– Feb. 24 vs. New York – Crispus Attucks High School: state champions of 1955, ’56 and ’59.
– March 15 vs. Boston – Milan High School 1954 State Champions: the team which inspired the movie Hoosiers.
– April 10 vs. Brooklyn – The eight champions of the 2015-16 IHSAA Girls and Boys State Finals.
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Fever’s Achonwa named to WNBA All-Rookie Team
NEW YORK — Indiana Fever’s Natalie Achonwa has been named to the 2015 WNBA All-Rookie Team. She joins Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm, the 2015 WNBA Rookie of the Year and four other WNBA stars on the roster as voted upon by a panel of WNBA head coaches.
Achonwa and Ana Dabovic of the Los Angeles Sparks each received five votes and tied for the final spot on the All-Rookie Team.
Achonwa was the rookie leader in field goal accuracy, shooting 55.0 percent in 28 games (17 starts) for the Fever. The 6-4 center averaged 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds and connected on 74.6 percent of her free throws.
2015 WNBA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Player, team, position, votes
Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm, guard, 10
Kiah Stokes, New York Liberty, center, 9
Brittany Boyd, New York Liberty, guard, 8
Ramu Tokashiki, Seattle Storm, forward, 6
Natalie Achonwa, Indiana Fever, center, 5 (tied)
Ana Dabovic, Los Angeles Sparks, guard, 5 (tied)
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Prep calendar
Today
Girls soccer
Knightstown at New Palestine, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Boys soccer
Pendleton Heights at New Palestine, 5:30 p.m.
Greenfield-Central at Rushville, 7 p.m.
Girls soccer
New Palestine at Warren Central, 5:30 p.m.
Mt. Vernon at Marion, 7 p.m.
Volleyball
Triton Central at New Palestine, 5:30 p.m.
Greenfield-Central at Pendleton Heights, 6:30 p.m.
Shelbyville at Mt. Vernon, 6 p.m.
