By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Sickness has spread through the Bedford North Lawrence program, with 13 out of 20 athletes on the two rosters struggling through the latest illness outbreak, like a raging wildfire, forcing the cancellation of practice.
It’s been a rough week, compounded by semester finals. After playing four games in seven days, ending that run with a devastating road loss, the Stars were already dragging, physically and mentally. Now they’re contagious.
If enough healthy bodies can be convened, BNL will face Fort Wayne Northrop in a Saturday matinee. The question will be whether the Stars have recovered – both from the flu symptoms, and the historic beatdown at Brownsburg – to face another quality opponent. Northrop (7-2 heading into a Friday night clash with rival Fort Wayne South) will lack sympathy for BNL’s plight.
After battling through three straight Hoosier Hills Conference games, and winning twice, there’s no sugar coating the complete breakdown at Brownsburg. The No.9 Bulldogs blasted the Stars 68-21, the first time BNL has been on the wrong end of the mercy rule. That felt about as bad as the Stars do this week with their stomach bug. The remedy is obvious.
“You have to flush it,” BNL coach Greg Burton said. “Brownsburg is really good, the game didn’t go our way. We won’t see too many teams like that. Everything just piled on.
“I want to see a positive frame of mind. It’s always tough when you lose a game, especially when you lose a game the way we did. We have a bunch of good kids, a bunch of hard workers. They need to come in with a good attitude, myself included. Our enthusiasm needs to be contagious, hopefully that will springboard into good things.”
The Bruins have won six straight heading into this weekend’s doubleheader. They feature a junior-heavy lineup with forward Khala Williams-Thomas (19.3 points, 7.5 rebounds), wing Swynn Jackson (16.2 points, 5.4 assists) and guard Brilee Day (10.4 points). Northrop ranks 17th in the state in scoring at 63.0 points per game.
“They have talent and athleticism,” Burton said. “Jackson can do everything. So it will be tough. It doesn’t get any easier.”
Scoring remains BNL’s main mysterious problem. Miley Sherrill remains the lone double-digit scorer at 11.0, and the Stars are shooting only 30 percent as a team while averaging only 42.7 points.
BNL won last year’s series debut 52-47 at Northrop as Sherrill scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Madisyn Bailey made two big defensive plays in the final minute.
FORT WAYNE NORTHRUP at BNL
When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Records: Fort Wayne Northrup 7-2 (at FW South on Friday); BNL 4-6
Sagarin ratings: Fort Wayne Northrup 84.52; BNL 71.26
Last meeting: Last year at Northrup, the Stars prevailed 52-47. Miley Sherrill had 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Chloe Spreen totaled 13 points, for BNL. Swynn Jackson had 14 points and Lexi Castator added 13 for the Bruins.
Previous game story: Stars ‘steal’ a victory
Game notes: Northrup is 17th in the state in scoring at 63.0 points per game. Last year’s game was the first meeting between the teams.
Fort Wayne Northrup statistics
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Miley Sherrill 5-9 So.
F – Makaya Jackson 5-8 Sr.
G – Trinidy Bailey 5-7 Jr.
G – Tori Nikirk 5-6 Sr.
G – Jordynn Blann 5-2 So.
Fort Wayne Northrup Bruins
F -Khala Williams-Thomas 5-11 Jr.
F -Swynn Jackson 5-11 Jr.
G – Brilee Day 5-5 Jr.
G – Alivia Rice 5-7 Jr.
G – Marion Wyss 5-5 Jr.
