By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Winning a championship is difficult, requiring extraordinary ability, hard work and some luck. Defending it is even tougher. “Winning,” coaching legend John Wooden said, “takes talent. To repeat takes character.” Bedford North Lawrence is about to start a season of character building.
The Stars, ranked No.4 in the Class 4A preseason poll, will begin the defense of their state championship with a rugged road test to inhospitable territory, opening the 2023-24 campaign with a trip to Mooresville on Thursday night.
BNL, with the program’s tradition and excellence creating a preceding reputation, always carries a bounty on its head. That reward will be even greater after the Stars claimed their fifth state title last season. The Pioneers will get the first shot at smudging the polished crown.
Defending is not an exact, accurate term. The Stars are not the same team, having lost three starters from a year ago, including an Indiana All-Star. That comes with the territory. BNL does have plenty of talent to refigure and replace. This grand opener will expose a lot.
“The first one is a tough one,” BNL coach Jeff Allen said. “Year in and year out, it’s a tough place to go play. We’ve gone up there with some really good teams and been lucky to get out of there with a win.”
What makes Mooresville good? Start with the head coach. Mark Hurt has started his 26th season at the helm, and he’s recorded 449 victories during that run (511 overall to rank sixth on the all-time wins list). Mooresville also returns its starting lineup intact from last season, when the Pioneers went 19-7 before falling in the sectional final.
Mooresville also has the strength (size) to probe BNL’s weakness (lack of size). The Pioneers start two 6-footers, including senior Rachel Harshman (14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds last season), and their backcourt now has a year’s experience. Allen will preach all year about the importance of rebounding, and that sermon will start with the very first service.
“They have size and a strength, they are formidable inside,” Allen said. “Not only rebounding, but our interior defense will be a focus for us. If we do that well, I like our chances. If we don’t, it will be a struggle. They’re a good team and we’re playing them on the road. Mark is a very good coach. They play extremely hard, they’re very disciplined, and they put pressure on you defensively in the halfcourt.”
BNL, of course, has firepower – even if vertically challenged. Senior forward Chloe Spreen, a Miss Basketball contender and Alabama recruit, will be in the spotlight after she averaged 19.0 points and 5.3 boards last year, and senior Madisyn Bailey will shoulder a bigger offensive role after she contributed 7.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the champions.
What the Stars must replace is the four-year veteran leadership of Karsyn Norman (15.5 points, 4.2 assists) and the important contributions of Mallory Pride (10.8 points, 6.8 boards). BNL will count on junior Tori Nikirk, sophomore Trinidy Bailey and heralded freshman Miley Sherrill to fill those voids. While the lineup cards might list them in other positions, those are a lot of guards on the floor. They will look to press the issue and force the tempo. Speed will be their ally.
“That’s what we have right now.,” Allen said. “We’re gifted with a lot of really good guards who are athletic. You have to play to your style. When we get out in the open floor, it’s challenging for other people. If we can keep that pressure up, getting out in transition, it tends to wear people down.”
BNL did exactly that during last year’s clash at BNL Fieldhouse. The Stars forced 26 turnovers and limited Mooresville to one basket in the third quarter during a runaway 67-34 triumph. Spreen had 21 point and Norman 17, while Kalyn Bunch paced the Pioneers with 12 points.
Mooresville opened with a 61-31 home win over Northview on Tuesday night.
BNL at MOORESVILLE
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: BNL 0-0, ranked No.4 in Class 4A; Mooresville 1-0
Last meeting: Last year at BNL, the Stars stormed to a 67-34 victory. Chloe Spreen had 21 points and Karsyn Norman added 17 for BNL. Kalyn Bunch had 12 points for the Pioneers, who were guilty of 26 turnovers and recorded only one basket in the third quarter.
Previous game story: Stars in supernatural mode
Game notes: BNL has won three straight in the series. Mooresville coach Mark Hurt, now in his 26th season with the Pioneers, ranks sixth on the all-time coaching list with 511 career wins.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Chloe Spreen 5-10 Sr.
F – Madisyn Bailey 5-9 Sr.
F- Miley Sherrill 5-9 Fr.
G – Tori Nikirk 5-6 Jr.
G – Trinidy Bailey 5-7 So.
Mooresville Pioneers
F – Ava Shafer 5-9 Jr.
F – Rachel Harshman 6-0 Sr.
C – Kalyn Bunch 6-0 Sr.
G – Emma McGinley 5-6 Sr.
G – Sydney Hardy 5-7 Sr.
