The prospect of playing fewer minutes as a senior doesn’t sit well with Addie Rund’s competitive nature.
If the rest leaves her with some more energy in the final minutes of a close game, though, she’s fine with the trade-off.
“The competitive side of me does want to be out there,” Rund said, “but I think it’s important that everyone’s fresh and ready to go as well.”
The senior point guard will again be one of the key cogs for an Indian Creek team that lost just one player from last year’s team but also welcomes a new coach in Brian Ferris.
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Expectations are high with six seniors out, including post Celina McElroy, who missed all of last season with a knee injury; Lacie Tekulve, a transfer from Whiteland; and Sydney Logsdon, a softball standout returning to the court for her final year.
The additions leave Ferris with a fairly loaded roster, and he plans to make use of it, possibly rotating in a dozen players or more.
“We’re looking to use that experience and depth,” he said.
The experience on the roster also has helped to ease the transition to a new coach and philosophy.
“It gives us a strong start from the beginning,” Rund said. “We’re all comfortable with each other and know how each other play.”
That comfort will be tested immediately. The Braves open against a Martinsville team that features a Miss Basketball front-runner in Kayana Traylor and figures to be ranked among the top teams in the state. Indian Creek has also beefed up its schedule by adding traditionally strong programs such as Roncalli and Crispus Attucks.
The tougher opposition might not help the team’s win-loss record much, but it’ll leave the Braves better equipped to contend in a tough sectional at season’s end.
“The expectations for me, and I think the coaches and the whole team as well, are really high this year,” Rund said.
And if Indian Creek can live up to those expectations, Rund probably won’t be too upset about spending an extra minute or two on the bench once in a while along the way.
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Head coach: Brian Ferris
Last season: 11-13, lost to Cardinal Ritter in sectional semifinal
Key returnees: Katie Burkman, Jr., F; Stevye Gonzalez, Jr., G; Hannah Grider, So., G; Ali Harris, So., G/F; Heather Maddox, Jr., F; Lauren Pendleton, So., F; Addie Rund, Sr., G; Makenzi Sizemore, Sr., G; Caitlyn Snyder, Jr., F/C
Fresh faces: Sydney Logsdon, Sr., F; Celina McElroy, Sr., F/C; Lacie Tekulve, Sr., G/F
Outlook: First-year coach Ferris inherits a veteran roster that graduated just one player and gets McElroy back after an injury sidelined her for all of last season. Burkman and Rund figure to again be the top guns for the Braves, but this should be a balanced team with the ability to go as many as 12 or 13 players deep and a desire to push the pace whenever possible. If the transition to a new system goes smoothly, Indian Creek should be a county, conference and sectional contender.
Coachspeak: “We want to get up and down the floor. We want to be aggressive defensively and work on our transition, and if we can go that 12 or 13 deep that’s really going to play into that.” — Ferris
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Date;Opponent;Time
Nov. 4;Martinsville;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 7;at Cascade;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11;at Monrovia;2 p.m.
Nov. 14-18;Johnson County tournament;TBA
Nov. 21;Beech Grove;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 1;Owen Valley;6 p.m.
Dec. 2;Crispus Attucks;12:30 p.m.
Dec. 5;at Hauser;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 8;Cloverdale;6 p.m.
Dec. 12;Whiteland;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15;Edgewood;6 p.m.
Dec. 19;at Greenwood;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 30;Walt Raines Classic at Franklin;TBA
Jan. 6;at Brown County;6 p.m.
Jan. 9;New Palestine;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 11;Roncalli;6Â p.m.
Jan. 19;WIC playoff vs. TBD;6 p.m.
Jan. 25;at Bedford North Lawrence;1:30 p.m.
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