2019-20 NWI Pre-Holiday Break Impressions
- Starting slightly outside the region, South Bend St. Joseph senior guard Keegan Sullivan is committed to play for Rockhurst University in Kansas City starting next season. I am of the constant belief that any girl that can make four three-pointers in one high school basketball game has a special and noteworthy talent, and Sullivan is no exception to the rule. She drained four triples on her way to 23 points in her team's first win of the season, against New Prairie on Nov. 14.
- Bishop Noll junior guard Courtney Blakely, perhaps one of the best players in the region, had her most efficient game of the season with 27 points, five rebounds, three assists, and six steals against Gary West Side in a 68-44 win on Dec. 3.
- Washington Township senior and five-foot marvel Mia Lewis (shown above) recorded 13 points on two-of-six from three-point range along with two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in a 51-45 loss at Wheeler on Nov. 19.
- Knox junior guard Felicity Olejniczak led her team with 16 points and six steals to go along with three rebounds during the Redskins' first road win of the season, at Walkerton Glenn on Nov. 9. Felicity plays the passing lanes at an elite level and has unexpectedly exceptional leaping skills for someone with her frame to go along with her scoring prowess. Knox is currently ranked 10th in the state of Indiana and 262nd overall in the country according to MaxPreps, and you could catch Felicity in action on Dec. 26-27 at the Wildcat Winter Classic in Cedar Lake.
- While not especially known as a shooter, Felicity went three-of-four from beyond the arc on her way to a 20-point night in a 53-29 win at LaCrosse on Nov. 23. This brings another point that there is something about that Tiger Den gymnasium that has been favorable to three-point shooting in recent seasons. Two years ago at about this time, I was in attendance when Oregon-Davis racked up 17 three-pointers as a team in one game in that facility. Katie Sauer still plays for O-D, and along with her older sister as well as Jami Hurford led the charge that evening against the Tigers.
- Here's a performance that came out of nowhere - West Central junior guard Tori Culp made seven three-pointers en route to 24 points on Nov. 19, also at LaCrosse. We knew Culp was a shooter; we just didn't know she was capable of this. While West Central still lost the game, 52-49, this nonetheless is a performance to take note of during the next year and a half until she graduates.
- Kankakee Valley freshman wing Lilly Toppen made her four three-pointers in one game on Dec. 7 and was efficient in doing so (She's a freshman!). She went for 14 points and three rebounds overall, and the Kougars rallied from down 16-2 after the first quarter to knock off Morgan Township in their gym in a tough second game of a back-to-back. You have a heck of a shot, Lilly. My best advice is to embrace your talent and take life day-by-day and not take too many steps at once.
- Lilly's teammate, senior guard Karmen Nowak, busted out of a long-range shooting slump and had a three-of-four performance from distance of her own in a win over Hanover Central on Dec. 10. Nowak recorded 15 points and eight rebounds that night - Both season highs, and is currently sporting a diverse stat line of 7.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 steals per game on the season.
- Butler commit and Crown Point senior wing Abby Stoddard is averaging 11.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and is currently connecting on 36 percent of her three-pointers. C.P. is undefeated as expected, and is currently ranked seventh in the state.
- Westville senior guard Nicole Albers scored 13 points (two-of-six from three, five-of-six from the foul line) and grabbed three rebounds in the Blackhawks' 50-29 season-opening win at Wheeler, and it would only get better from there for Coco. As of mid-month she was shooting an incredible 48 percent from three-point range.
- Highland sophomore guard Audrey Vanderhoek made a pair of threes in a 29-25 loss against Hanover Central on Nov. 19. While it is always nice to see an unselfish thinker at such a young age - Audrey, you may need to look for your shot more often in this anemic offense. The whole point in this is not to underestimate yourself, for you may have been blessed with more talent than you give yourself credit for.
- Last but not least (for me), the daughter of my hair stylist and Hobart senior guard Paige Cooper now has five career made three-pointers at the varsity level, three of which of come this season as the curse is finally starting to break for the team after four mostly beleaguered seasons since Mike Hamacher left the Brickies in 2015.
Tip-in:
Region collegiate Kylie Fehrman (Lake Central, 2017) has started at shooting guard in 13 games for the 14-1 IU-South Bend Titans and is averaging 9.2 points per game on 29.6 percent shooting from three, including two makes at Trinity Christian College on Nov. 26.
Have a safe and happy holidays everyone!
