GREENFIELD — With the graduation of its two-top scorers, Greenfield-Central will be looking for someone new to lead the way on the offensive end.
That role may take some time to fill. In the interim, the Cougars will rely on strong defensive efforts to guide them to victory.
"We’ve stressed defense more the first two weeks (of practice) than I can remember the last three years here," Greenfield-Central third-year head coach Bradley Key said. "It’s got to be our ticket to stay in some games and make sure other teams have to work for their shots and only get one shot."
The Cougars graduated top-two scorers Hannah Farrell and Crystal Peterson. Farrell led the team in a number of categories, averaging team-highs of 15.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.0 steals per game.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Peterson scored at an 8.2 clip and was second on the team in assists (1.6) and steals (1.3).
Farrell picked up a Division-I scholarship and is playing this season at Bellarmine University in Louisville, a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
"It’s going to be hard to replace Hannah and Crystal,” Key said. “They’re outstanding basketball players, and it was great to have them in the program.
“We’re going to have to do it as a team. There were times the past two years where everyone stood and watched Hannah play. Now, it’s going to have to be a group that’s banning together, helping each other."
Brooke Herrell, a 5-11 forward, tops the returnees and is one of five seniors Key will lean on for leadership on and off the court.
Herrell is the top returning scoring, averaging 4.8 points per game last season.
Senior Addison Hill (5-10, forward/guard) averaged 4.0 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Guard Caroline Gibson (5-7) is coming off a great fall sports season, helping lead the Cougars golfers to the state tournament. She is the most veteran of the backcourt players.
"We’re going to need those three to be good vocally and, on the court, need them to put the ball in the bucket," Key said of his most veteran seniors. "We’ll rely a lot on Brooke, Addie and Carol to lead us. Hopefully other ones step in and they’ll be opportunities for others to step in."
Zoe Solis (5-4) and Anna Isbell (6-1) are the other seniors.
Isbell is a move-in from Pennsylvania. Her mother, Gail Mayerle-Isbell, played for some very good Greenfield-Central teams in the 1980s.
With Herrell, Hill, Isbell and sophomore Schuyler Sparks (5-10) the Cougars will have some height. Though only a sophomore, Sparks gained valuable experience last year, joining the starting lineup late in the season. She averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
“Defensively, we’re going to have to be pretty great and a lot of it starts with Brooke Herrell and her length," Key said of the senior that was a strong outside hitter for the school’s volleyball team.
He said, she showed her defensive prowess in the team’s scrimmage last week against Anderson.
With so many unknowns on the offensive end, some newcomers could also find themselves in the mix to be solid contributors to this year’s team.
Aryanna Hibbard (5-6, sophomore guard), Annan Tiede (5-8, junior guard), Madi Stevens (5-10, sophomore guard/forward) and Taylor Smith (5-5, sophomore guard) are all working to find time on the court.
“The goal is and always will be is to compete for a sectional title,” Key added. “Where we’re starting, we want to make sure that when all is said and done; we improved, we worked hard and we enjoyed the journey. Hopefully, we can compete and enjoy that journey and get better at basketball along the way.
"It’s a good group of kids, really enjoy working with them. I really like our seniors. They’re fun kids, great kids, get great grades and they do the right things. We’re lucky. They represent a lot of things we like to see at Greenfield-Central."
The Cougars finished 10-13 last year. The season opens Thursday on the road at Greenwood. The home opener is Saturday against Whiteland. The first Hoosier Heritage Conference game is scheduled for Nov. 20, at home, against Pendleton Heights.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”2020-2021 Greenfield-Central girls basketball schedule” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
2020-2021 Greenfield-Central girls basketball schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
Nov. 5;at Greenwood;7:30 pm
Nov. 7;vs. Whiteland;7:30 pm
Nov. 14;vs. Guerin Catholic;1:30 pm
Nov. 17;at Richmond;7:30 pm
Nov. 20;vs. Pendleton Heights;7:30 pm
Nov. 24;at Hamilton Heights;7:30 pm
Dec. 1;at Bishop Chatard;7:30 pm
Dec. 3;vs. Lapel;7:30 pm
Dec. 11;vs. New Palestine;6 pm
Dec. 14;at Shelbyville;7:30 pm
Dec. 19;vs. Delta;1:30 pm
Dec. 22;vs. Connersville;6 pm
Dec. 30;at Franklin Tourney;TBA
Jan. 2;vs. Mooresville;6 pm
Jan. 12;vs. Plainfield;7:30 pm
Jan. 15;at New Castle;6 pm
Jan. 16;at Indian Creek;1:30 pm
Jan. 20;vs. Muncie Central;7:30 pm
Jan. 22;at Mt. Vernon;7:30 pm
Jan. 26;vs. Yorktown;7:30 pm
Jan. 28;at Avon;7:30 pm
[sc:pullout-text-end]
