By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence will hit the reset button. That’s always the first thing a troubleshooter suggests when an electrical device or computer glitches. Unplug it and turn it back on. That could be the simple fix rather than a complex solution.
After a lengthy scheduled midseason break, 13 long days since their last performance – unusual except when weather postponements interrupt the calendar – and a humbling loss, the Stars will finally return to action, hoping a starting lineup change and the first road trip in the last 20-plus years to an old destination will provide a spark of offensive voltage.
BNL (2-3) will make its first journey to North Knox since the 2002-23 season opener on Monday night. The Warriors (6-1 and ranked No.3 in Class 2A) will provide a stern test for a team that has struggled on the offensive end. North Knox has allowed only two opponents to top the 40-point mark.
The Stars have had time to work on that problem. BNL has shot only 27.1 percent through its first five games (including a paltry 19 of 103 from 3-point range), and only one starter is averaging in double digits. First-year coach Greg Burton will try the lineup adjustment – with two new starters – in the search for improvement. Senior forward Makaya Jackson and sophomore guard Jordynn Blann have been promoted.
“We need to change some things up,” Burton said. “We’ve had a lot of girls playing well in practice. They’ve earned their chance to see what they can do. We’ll throw them out there and see how it goes.
“Makaya has played well in games, she has done everything we’ve asked her to do. She gives us better opportunities in her position, rather than having five guards out there. She can play the post spot, screen and rebound, which is something we really need.”
The mystery factor is how BNL will react after the two-week hibernation. Perhaps it was perfect timing, since the Stars are coming off a 50-25 loss at Bloomington South and needed a break to remove that taste. Perhaps it will be like starting over, which can cause rust.
“I think it’s both,” Burton said. “We’ve had some good practices, which is helpful, but at the same time we want to play. The kids are getting antsy at this point.”
Not many teams are anxious to clash with the Warriors. They have four returning starters from last season. After falling to 3A No.3 Washington in their opener, they’ve gone on a recent rampage. They’ve battled some injuries, but at full strength they are a tough challenge.
“I really think this team is better than last season, when we are healthy,” North Knox coach Steve Meurer said. “We are a pressuring team, so it has been difficult to do that with all of our injuries.”
North Knox will feature senior Alex McKinley (14.0 points, 4.4 boards), senior guard Brynna Collins (13.3 points, 4.7 boards and 4.0 assists) and junior Lexi Primus (10.5 points but limited to two games thus far).
“Our best strength is our guard play,” Meurer said. “We have good shooters and drivers. We are hard to guard, due to us fielding five guards sometimes. We have had five players that have led us in scoring on different nights. It is really hard to concentrate on one player. We have a couple of players that came off the bench last year that are really making their presence felt. Bailey McClure (8.4 points) has been a huge factor in our success.”
“His teams always play hard, they’re always in your face,” Burton said. “They have a way of putting you in some binds defensively, so it will be a challenge. They have a bunch of kids that play really hard all the time, to go with talent.”
BNL found that out last season. The Stars escaped with a 51-50 home victory when Miley Sherrill hit two free throws with 1.8 seconds left. Chloe Spreen had 23 points and Madisyn Bailey added 12. Primus had 14 points, McKinley added 11 and Brooklyn Sturgeon totaled 10 for the Warriors. After that setback, North Know ripped off 17 straight wins before falling to Linton in the sectional final. So this rematch has been circled on the schedule.
“The word Bedford is intimidating,” Meurer said. “Bedford is a team that is down some, but gives teams like us fits due to their speed. They play a little different this year because they have more players that look to score. They play tight man defense, this is something that we really have not seen yet. They are trying to figure things out right now, but they can beat good teams on any given night.”
Sherrill leads the Stars in scoring at 10.6. The production then dips down to senior guard Tori Nikirk (6.6) and senior wing Katie Godlevske (6.0).
BNL at NORTH KNOX
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: BNL 2-3; North Knox 6-1, ranked No.3 in Class 2A
Sagarin ratings: BNL 73.57; North Knox 81.41
Last meeting: Last year at BNL, the Stars escaped with a 51-50 win as Miley Sherrill hit two free throws with 1.8 seconds left. Chloe Spreen had 23 points for BNL. Lexi Primus had 14 points for the Warriors.
Previous game story: Sherrill’s clutch free throws power BNL
Game notes: North Knox coach Steve Meurer is 8th on the state’s active coaching list with 425 career wins. North Knox ranks 25th in the state in winning margin at 27.2 points per game.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Miley Sherrill 5-9 So.
F – Trinidy Bailey 5-7 Jr.
F – Makaya Jackson 5-8 Sr
G – Tori Nikirk 5-6 Sr.
G – Jordynn Blann 5-2 So.
North Knox Warriors
F – Alex McKinley 5-7 Sr.
F – Jade Richter 5-8 Jr.
G – Brynna Collins 5-6 Sr.
G – Lexi Primus 5-8 Jr.
G – Brooklyn Sturgeon 5-4 Sr.
