FORTVILLE — Ariana Sandefur and the road have become one the past few days.
Since walking across the stage at graduation Friday, Sandefur has made driving more than two hours one way to New Albany her new routine.
It’s a hefty trek southbound, but one the former Mt. Vernon standout is excited to make as the next chapter in her basketball career begins to unfold.
“I have to drive to Louisville every single week, and I’m good with that,” said Sandefur, who is anxious to embark on her NAIA basketball career at IU-Southeast. “I’m just trying to get into the gym with my teammates and be able to prepare for next season. I’m super close to my team already.”
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More importantly, she’s healthy for the first time in what seems like an eternity.
Sidelined for more than two months during her senior season at Mt. Vernon, Sandefur is 100 percent again, and has avoided any setbacks — well, almost.
“My ankle is completely healed. I tweaked it the other day, though. I stepped in a pot hole and I started freaking out because I thought I hurt it,” Sandefur jokes after the fact. “But nothing is wrong with it. I’m fine.”
The injury robbed Sandefur of 14 games in 2015-16 and sapped her production as she averaged 8.3 points per game compared to a stellar 12.3 as a junior.
Even when she returned Jan. 19 after getting hurt Nov. 20, 2015, she admits, her game wasn’t the same.
“It was probably the hardest nine weeks I could have imagined. I had an injury in the eighth grade, but it was nothing like what happened to me this season,” Sandefur said. “It was hard mentally to overcome this challenge.”
As tough as the ordeal was for the shooting guard, it made her motivated to regain her footing.
In her return she scored 20 points against Richmond, knocking down 6 of 13 trademark 3-pointers. Her season high came against Delta on Jan. 28 with 23 points and six more treys.
The rest of the time, she struggled to find a rhythm. Instead, she rediscovered her drive as the team labored to a 17-9 record and a sectional championship loss to rival Greenfield-Central, 61-43 last February.
“It was senior year. It was supposed to be our year. It was supposed to be my year, and I couldn’t even fulfill it,” Sandefur reflected. “It didn’t only mess up my game but it messed me up. I had to learn how to become stronger and realized this is a game that I want to play and that I love.”
Those thoughts ride along with Sandefur every time she clicks her seat belt, and will follow her for one more planned stop along the way this Friday.
Invited to compete in the 11th Annual Hoosiers Reunion Classic doubleheader in Knightstown, Sandefur and Greenfield-Central graduate Tate Hall have one final high school obligation.
Sandefur couldn’t imagine closing her prep career any other way.
“I got nominated for the (Hoosier Basketball Magazine’s 2016 Top 60 Senior Workout), which I thought was a super big deal, and to go into the Hoosiers game is just awesome,” Sandefur said. “It means a lot, especially if you’ve seen the movie.”
A rite of passage for most Hoosier born hoopsters, Sandefur has seen the movie “Hoosiers” several times and recently in class weeks before graduation.
She knows all about the picket fence, the nostalgia and the gym’s notable dimensions. Only 665 fans can sit in the venue, which makes the event intimate and prestigious.
Each player is granted a little more than a dozen tickets. All of hers have been spoken for by family and friends to witness her last high school game.
“It’s sad that it’s over, but it’s also a good thing. I’m ready to move on to college,” Sandefur said. “It’s time to finish that chapter.”
No better way to close the book than by doing what she does best, burying treys.
As a junior she hit 55 of 144 attempts. In limited action this past season, she was 21 of 73 from 3-point range.
As a member of the fabled Hickory Huskers, Sandefur would like to find No. 22 while playing alongside and against some of the state’s best players, including Indiana’s Miss Basketball Jackie Young of Princeton.
“I have to make a three. That’s my one goal,” Sandefur said. “That’s my shot. If I make one, I’ll be happy.”
The girls game opens the night at 6 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 8 p.m.
Hall, the 2015-16 Hancock County Player of the Year will run with the Hickory Huskers and Mr. Basketball Kyle Guy.
A Hoosier Heritage Conference First Team selection, Hall will play at the University of Indianapolis.
The 6-foot-6 wing led the county in both scoring and rebounding (458 points and 194 boards). He finished with 1,315 points (fourth all time at Greenfield-Central).
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What: 11th Annual Hoosiers Reunion All-Star Classic
Where: Knightstown’s Historic Hoosier Gym
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
Who: Several of the state’s top graduated senior basketball players, including Ariana Sandefur (Mt. Vernon/IU Southeast) and Tate Hall (Greenfield-Central/UIndy).
Tickets: To purchase tickets (only 665 seats available), call 317-925-8200 or email [email protected]. Tickets are $25 per person.
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Hickory Huskers Boys Team
Coach: Bobby Allen, Knightstown
Name, School, Ht., Pos., College
Tucker Blackwell, Bloomington South, 6-2, Guard, Army Westpoint
Joey Brunk, Southport, 6-10, Center, Butler
Hunter Crist, Hamilton Heights, 6-2, Guard, Undecided
Jackson Edwards, Knightstown, 6-1, Guard, IU-South Bend
Eron Gordon, Cathedral, 6-0, Guard, Seton Hall
Kyle Guy, Lawrence Central, 6-3, Guard, Virginia
Tate Hall, Greenfield-Central, 6-6, Forward, Indianapolis
Christian Munson, Guerin Catholic, 6-5,Forward, Rollins (Florida)
Anthony Murphy, Griffith, 6-5, Forward, Undecided
Keegan Northern, Martinsville, 6-8, Forward, Indianapolis
Jaret Sons, Rushville, 6-6, Forward, Grace
Jordan Walker, Cathedral, 6-2, Guard, Morehead State
Terhune Tigers Boys Team
Coach: Daniel Cox, New Castle
Name, School, Ht., Pos., College
Desmond Bane, Seton Catholic, 6-5, Forward, Texas Christian
Marcus Burk, Franklin Central, 6-3, Guard, Campbell
KC Earls, Mooresville, 6-1, Guard, Marian
Andrew Garrett, New Castle, 5-8, Guard, Undecided
Reggie Jones, Marion, 6-6, Forward, Western Michigan
Luke Kenney, Mooresville, 6-6, Forward, Undecided
John Kiser, Noblesville, 6-5, Forward, Undecided
Kyle Mallers, Carroll (Allen), 6-7, Forward, Ball State
Dru Smith, Evansville Reitz, 6-3, Guard, Evansville
CJ Walker, Indianapolis Tech, 6-0, Guard, Florida State
Brian Warren, Indianapolis Howe, 5-10, Guard, Undecided
Cameron Wolter, Fishers, 6-8, Center, Massachusetts-Lowell
Hickory Huskers Girls Team
Coach: Tim Young, Vincennes Rivet
Name, School, Ht., Pos., College
Alyssa Clay, Pike, 5-8, Guard, Akron
Lauren Dickerson, Lawrence North, 5-3, Guard, Miami of Ohio
Kelsey Ivers, Vincennes Rivet, 5-8, Guard, Kentucky Wesleyan
DeAnn Kauffman, Union (Modoc), 5-10, Forward, Indiana Tech
Allie McCool, East Central, 6-2, Center, George Mason
Katelyn O’Reilly, Noblesville, 6-0, Forward, Florida Atlantic
Riley Popplewell, South Central (Union Mills), 5-11, Center, South Carolina Upstate
Tyana Robinson, Pike, 5-9, Guard, Florida Atlantic
Ariana Sandefur, Mt. Vernon, 5-9, Guard, IU-Southeast
Jayla Scaife, Muncie Central, 5-11, Forward, Dayton
Kristen Spolyar, Lebanon, 5-10, Forward, Butler
Brooke Todd, Switzerland County, 5-5, Guard, Hanover
Terhune Tigers Girls Team
Coach: Corie West, New Castle
Name, School, Ht., Pos., College
Candace Danz, Indian Creek, 5-10, Forward, Marian
Vironnica Drake, Marion, 5-7, Guard, Grace
Daesjah Ely, Roncalli, 6-0, Forward, IUPUI
Tyasha Harris, Heritage Christian, 5-10, Guard, South Carolina
Macie Lively, Tipton, 5-6, Guard, Evansville
Lauren Rau, Center Grove, 5-5, Guard, Lipscomb
Myka Roth, Delphi, 5-11, Forward, Vincennes
Jasmine Shelt, Lawrence Central, 5-9, Guard, Kentucky Wesleyan
Emily Sullivan, Evansville Memorial, 6-4, Center, North Carolina
Laura Thomas, New Castle, 5-8, Guard, Northern Kentucky
Brooke Treadway, Northwestern, 6-0, Center, Grace
Jackie Young, Princeton, 5-11, Forward, Notre Dame
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