FORTVILLE — Winning 20 games and knocking off a rival to win a sectional title sure can make a team hungry for more.
Mt. Vernon’s girls’ basketball team, after having back-to-back sub-.500 seasons, finished 20-6 in 2018-19. They had a nine-game winning streak during the regular season and won nine of 10 — with the only loss a one-pointer at New Castle — down the stretch before avenging a regular-season loss to New Palestine to take the Class 4A Sectional 9 title.
With the return of the top three top scorers and five players total that made big impacts in last year’s success, the Marauders are wanting more in 2019-20.
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“We don’t want to stop at a sectional,” senior Sydnee Perry said. “We want to go farther than that and get a regional and win conference this year.”
Another big year could be in store for Julie Shelton’s group, but a key, according to coach and players, is being more consistent.
“I told them, you can’t always be really good. Not even professional teams do that,” Shelton said. “But, our gaps have to lessen. We can’t go from really good to really bad. It has to go from really good to average. We have to be more consistent.
“It is hard to always stay up (at the top), but we can’t have huge drop offs. We have to be more consistent in maintaining our play.”
During last year’s successful season, there were times when the team’s play dropped off.
For example, in the opener, a 46-44 win over Franklin, the Marauders were outscored 18-3 in the third quarter, erasing a 15-point halftime lead.
In a 40-36 win over East Central, the Marauders had a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
“(There were some games where) we started strong and died down halfway through,” Perry added. “We really want to be consistent this season, stay strong.”
The Marauders are hopeful being a veteran, more mature team will limit those inconsistent stages.
“When we didn’t hit shots, we kind of got down on ourselves,” junior Lexi Shelton, the coach’s daughter and the team’s top scorer a year ago at 15.9 points per game, said. “That was a big part with us being so young my first two years here. We just weren’t mature enough to be able to push through some of that inconsistency.
“Now that most of our varsity is upperclassmen, I think that will help with our consistency. We all have been playing varsity and nobody is really new.”
Perry and Lexi Shelton give the Marauders a solid 1-2 punch.
Perry averaged 10.7 points and 2.8 steals per game. Coach Shelton calls the senior the team’s best athlete.
Junior Abby Worley was the third leading scorer last season at 6.6 points per contest. Six-foot junior Olivia Yeley gives the team some size. The coach thinks both have the potential to have breakout seasons.
Tessa Freeman is the team’s only other senior. She did a lot of the little things that led to last year’s stellar season, but like Worley and Yeley, she will have a larger role this season.
Two other juniors round out the Marauders veteran core group of seven. Riley Hasseld and Faith Hayes both saw limited time as sophomores. Coach Shelton said Hasseld is the team’s best defensive player.
Along with correcting the consistency issues from last season, the Marauders want to build off their season-ending successes.
With most of the key players returning, the veteran group want to pick up where they left off when the 2019-20 season gets underway tonight at Franklin.
“I think (last year) should show them what they are capable of and make them hungry to do more,” coach Shelton said. “Obviously, it also means there is a target on their backs. Teams now know that you can play well and will be after you.
“That is something we will have to enjoy and just love the competition of each game.”
The Marauders play their first four games on the road before hosting Rushville on Nov. 22. The Hoosier Heritage Conference opener is scheduled for Dec. 7, at home, against Pendleton Heights.
“Like the last several years, it is anybody’s game when it comes to conference,” coach Shelton said. “We would love to win conference, but our eye is definitely still on February (and the sectional). That’s our No. 1.”
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The remaining three Hancock County girls basketball teams open their seasons tonight. Eastern Hancock opened their season Tuesday with a road win against Wes-Del.
Tonight
(all games at approximately 7:30 p.m.)
Greenwood at Greenfield-Central
Connersville at New Palestine
Mt. Vernon at Franklin
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Coach: Julie Shelton
Last season: 20-6 (5-2 HHC), lost to Ben Davis in regional semifinal
Top returnees: Tessa Freeman and Sydnee Perry, seniors; Lexi Shelton, Abby Worley and Olivia Yeley, juniors.
Key newcomers: Riley Hasseld and Faith Hayes, juniors
What to expect: The Marauders bring back their top three scorers in junior Lexi Shelton (15.9), senior Sydnee Perry (10.7) and junior Abby Worley (6.6). Coming off a 20-win season and sectional title, Mt. Vernon girls’ basketball appears to be back to an accustomed spot as one of Hancock County and the surrounding area’s top teams. Tied for second in last year’s Hoosier Heritage Conference race, the Marauders should be in the hunt for the top spot this year as well as one of the favorites in February’s Richmond Sectional.
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