Published: November 10, 2009 12:09 am         

Girls Prep Basketball Previews: Northview moves on from Raines-sisters era, hopes to field more rounded team

Brazil — LuAnne Anderson had a vision for the Northview High School girls basketball program when she moved up from junior varsity to varsity coach. She wanted scoring, rebounding and defense from every player on the floor. A total team.

Needless to say, it didn’t happen. While the Knights improved to 10-10 and averaged 51 points a game last season, they still relied on one player. Spring Raines did it all leading the Knights in scoring (24 ppg), rebounds (8.6 ppg) and assists (3 apg). Raines and her sister Stormi, as well as Kirstin Kimball, Erica Lee and Shelby Colson, all graduated.

Anderson’s second Northview team will have to come close to her vision of team basketball if the Knights expect to equal or improve on last year’s record.

Senior guards Carlee Bell and Emily Phillips are the lone returning starters. The 5-foot-4 Bell averaged 2.7 points per game and the 5-8 Phillips 5.6 points. In a Western Indiana Conference game against Edgewood last year, the two accounted for 12 points five rebounds and against Sullivan they had 16 points and five rebounds.

“We won’t be able to rely on one person that everybody knows is going to score when she wants to score,” Anderson said.

And that has Anderson excited about these Knights.

“I think all 10 girls mesh really well together and that includes a freshman,” Anderson said.

In the Knights’ practice scrimmage against Linton, Bell and Phillips were joined in the starting lineup by 6-1 junior Chelsey Sampson, 5-7 senior Kelsey Searing and 5-5 junior Lauren Webster. But that may not be the lineup Anderson puts on the floor when the Knights open the season Wednesday night against Terre Haute North in the HI-99/Terre Haute Savings Bank Classic.

Ali Sharton, an athletic 5-8 senior, started practice late after leading Northview’s volleyball team to a sectional title. And Taylor Carter, a 5-9 freshman, could also become a starter.

“I think our unselfish play [will be our strength]. These girls aren’t concerned about who scores, as long as we score,” Anderson said.

Northview’s weaknesses are experience and the lack of size. The Knights have only four players who played varsity minutes and only one player over 5-foot-9. Along with Bell and Phillips, Searing and Sharton saw varsity action last year.

“I think [experience] is going to be more of a factor early in the season. It’s going to be a learning curve in our season,” Anderson predicted.

Due to the lack of experience, and Anderson’s willingness to give every player a chance, a lot of Knights will play early. Junior Jessica LaTourette and sophomores Alyssa Conrad and Kylee McKee will contribute to the Knights’ efforts.

Sampson is the only player with notable size on the Knights’ roster. Coming off the bench as a sophomore, she got pushed around by experienced post players.

But the coach thinks the Knights’ may have a way to make up some of that size. The 5-7 Searing pulled down nine rebounds in the Knights’ win over Sullivan.

“Our girls are athletic and willing to accept the challenge [of playing against taller players],” Anderson said.

Once the Knights get comfortable shooting the ball, shooting could be strength.

“I think we’re going to have a decent perimeter look,” Anderson said.

As for the WIC, Anderson expects defending champion Owen Valley to be strong again and Edgewood to challenge, but also points out Sullivan and South Vermillion should be strong this season.

“I look for [the WIC] to be very competitive,” Anderson said.



Northview schedule

Wednesday — vs. Terre Haute North at HI-99/Terre Haute Savings Bank Classic at West Vigo, 7:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday — HI-99/Terre Haute Savings Bank Classic at West Vigo, TBA

Nov. 17 — Riverton Parke, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 19 — At Mooresville, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 21 — Terre Haute South, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 1 — At Bloomington North, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 5 — Brown County (WIC), 5 p.m.

Dec. 11 — At West Vigo (WIC), 6 p.m.

Dec. 15 — At Terre Haute North, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — At Edgewood (WIC), 6 p.m.

Jan. 5 — Greencastle, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 — Owen Valley (WIC), 6 p.m.

Jan. 12 — At Cascade, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 14 — At Martinsville, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 — At Danville, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — South Vermillion (WIC), 6 p.m.

Jan. 26 — Clay City, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — At Sullivan (WIC), 6 p.m.

Feb. 2 — At Plainfield, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 — Bloomfield, 7:30 p.m.

WIC — denotes Western Indiana Conference game



Northview roster

Player Ht. Yr.

Carlee Bell 5-4 Sr.

Emily Phillips 5-8 Sr.

Kelsey Searing 5-7 Sr.

Ali Sharton 5-8 Sr.

Jessica LaTourette 5-7 Jr.

Chelsey Sampson 6-1 Jr.

Lauren Webster 5-5 Jr.

Alyssa Conrad 5-4 So.

Kylie McKee 5-6 So.

Taylor Carter 5-9 Fr.