Hall of Fame Classic field set for December
The 2010-11 season is already behind us, and plans for the upcoming season are already underway.
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame has announced the field of four for the 2011 Girls’ City Securities Hall of Fame Classic set for Thursday, December 29 at the New Castle Fieldhouse.
At 11:00 a.m. ET, Roncalli will face Norwell, followed by Penn against Mt. Vernon (Fortville) in the 28th girls edition of the Classic.
About the Teams:
RONCALLI
The Rebels expect to return five starters and eight of their top ten players from their 19-6 regional championship squad in 2011.
Standing at 6’2, sophomore guard Bridget Perry averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 steals last season. 6’2” junior forward Katie Brewer (right), a Butler University commit and recently named a Junior All-Star, averaged 7.2 points and team-highs of 9.2 rebounds and 3.6 blocks. Freshman point guard Kellie Kirkhoff averaged 8.8 points, 5’9” junior CoCo Clark averaged 8.0 points, and freshman Elizabeth Bowers averaged 6.4 points.
In her three seasons at the helm, head coach Sara Riedeman has averaged 17 wins per season. Her teams have won three 3A sectional championships and reached the regional championship game in consecutive seasons. This year they were defeated by eventual 3A state champion Evansville Memorial, 69-59, in the 3A south semi-state.
The Roncalli girls will make their 2nd appearance in the Classic. Current assistant coach Bob Kirkhoff led the team to a runner-up finish in the 1994 event with a squad that included 1996 Indiana All-Star Sarah Hurrle.
NORWELL
Despite the graduation of four seniors from this year’s 21-3 squad, the Lady Knights expect another big season thanks in large part to 6’2” junior post Jessica Rupright (left).
Rupright, a Miami (OH) commit and Junior All-Star, averaged 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds as Norwell advanced to their 3A regional championship game before a loss to 2010 3A state champion Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran. Sophomore guard Taylor Wilson averaged 10.1 points and team-bests 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals. Junior guard Jami Reinhard averaged 5.9 points and sophomore Paige Frisch scored 5.5 points for the 9th highest scoring offense in the state (63.7 ppg).
Head coach Eric Thornton has led Norwell to a 63-6 record over the past three seasons and has accumulated 94 victories in the last five years. Their .878 winning percentage over the last four seasons is third best in the state. He is in his 14th season as the head coach with the Lady Knights.
Norwell will make its first appearance in the girls’ Classic.
PENN
The Lady Kingsmen expect to return four starters and seven of their top eight scorers from their 23-2 squad that finished as 4A state runners-up this season.
Penn had won 15 games in a row and did not lose to an Indiana team until falling to 2010 Classic participant Jeffersonville in the 2011 4A state championship game in Fort Wayne.
The returning cast for Penn includes 5’9” junior guard Alex Morton (right), a Junior All-Star who averaged team-highs of 13.8 points, 3.1 assists, and 3.2 steals and shot 57% from the field this season. 5’10” junior Tori Milliner put up averages of 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds, while sophomore Olivia Carlton averaged 7.0 points.
Head coach Kristi Kaniewski has a 39-5 record in two seasons leading the program. In addition to making their first-ever appearance in the girls state finals, over the last four years the Penn girls program has a record of 74-14.
Penn makes its first appearance in the girls’ Classic.
MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE)
The Marauders expect to return five of their top six scorers from a 21-2 regional finalist squad that spent time ranked #1 in 3A.
Mt. Vernon began the season 18-0 and advanced to the regional championship game, where they lost to fellow 2011 Classic participant Roncalli. Junior point guard Jessica Brown (left), a Junior All-Star, averaged 14.0 points and 4.5 assists. 6’2” junior Makenzi Reasor, an Indiana State commit, averaged 8.7 points and 6.3 rebounds. Sophomore Rachel Houck averaged 7.8 points and 6’0” freshman Erica Moore averaged 7.3 points.
Head coach Julie Shelton is approaching her 200th career win. Her teams have been 39-5 over the past two seasons and she has led the program for 13 seasons. In 1999 she became the first woman to have played in the Classic and win the Classic as a head coach. In the 1987 tournament, Julie (VonDielingen) was named MVP of the tournament as her Seymour team lost to Scottsburg in the championship game. Her 1999 squad defeated Rising Sun and Franklin to take that year’s Classic championship.
Mt. Vernon makes its third appearance in the girls’ Classic. They won the 1999 event and were participants in 1986, where they lost two games.
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