By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – “Now is the winter of our discontent.” It’s the famous opening line of Shakespeare’s epic play Richard III, a speech referring to the reasons for his personal unhappiness while also suggesting that morose may soon end.
Bedford North Lawrence basketball, at the midpoint of the regular season, understands that mindset. The Stars (4-7) are not used to struggling. The last 12 years of unparalleled glory, with Miss Basketball winners, multiple Div. I recruits and other college-bound athletes dominating the landscape, created unrealistic expectations for the successors. Coaching change almost always comes with an adjustment period. It’s been a perfect winter storm of dissatisfaction, for all involved.
The Stars need to step back and take a deep breath, forget the outside noise. The schedule has not allowed much of that. Six of BNL losses have come against strong opponents (three ranked in the polls) with a combined record of 57-19. In the second half, starting with Columbus North (11-1) in the first round of the Donna Cheatham Classic at Scottsburg on Friday, BNL will face six foes (five that are ranked) with a current combined record of 62-8. Right now, depending on how the Scottsburg tournament unfolds, only one of the last 12 currently owns a losing record.
There’s been no rest, nor will there be, for the weary. The name on the front of the uniform does not, nor will it, guarantee victories. A couple of winnable games got away, which would have masked some of the pain, but the reality of the difficult circumstances would not have changed.
“There are no gimmes, that’s for sure,” BNL coach Greg Burton said. “We have our work cut out for us.
“We have a difficult schedule, and we haven’t been able to revamp things in the way I want. So it makes it hard, it’s compounding the little mistakes that you go through with a coaching change. Everybody can get frustrated. Eventually the wins will come. It’s BNL, so you want to win now.“
The statistics pinpoint the obvious. BNL’s offensive issues (42.2 points per game, a team shooting percentage of 30, only one double-digit scorer) and frustration have added to the pressure and created a razor-thin margin for error against quality opponents. Strategy only works when the ball goes in the basket.
“We have to simplify things, and do simple better,” Burton said. “We have to focus on what we can control and get better ourselves. The girls are working hard. We have to execute better and do all the little things better.
“We’re still living and dying by the three (22.6 percent as a unit). As much as I hate that, that’s the style we have right now. We have to get to the rim more, get to the line, and score in other ways.”
BNL’s goals are still reachable. The Stars are 2-1 in the Hoosier Hills Conference, still a factor in that race, and there’s still time to prepare for the 4A sectional title defense (at Seymour). All is far from lost.
“That’s been the goal the entire time,” Burton said. “I knew there would be ups and downs, that’s part of it, any time there’s a shift with the roster and coaching staff. So the game plan was for the sectional, and it still is. We want to win as many games as we can between now and then, but that’s the ultimate goal.”
The first step toward that will be a clash with the formidable Bull Dogs. Winning would solve a lot of woes.
BNL got a sneak peak at North during the IHSAA sanctioned scrimmage on Nov. 5. The Bull Dogs, missing a starter in the lineup, posted a 43-32 overall win while sweeping the four quarters, and that performance gave a glimpse of BNL’s future, when the Stars went 10 minutes without scoring during the second quarter.
Kaylie Harmon leads North in scoring at 14.7, while senior Hadassah Hurt (who missed the scrimmage) adds 10.7. Harmon had 10 points, Avery Johnson (a third double-figure threat at 10.0) added 7 and Ava Wilson totaled 7 against the Stars.
“I think people will see that both teams have evolved since our scrimmage,” North coach Brett White said. “At that time, we were trying to get a feel for what different players’ roles would be, and BNL was at the beginning of a season with a new coach and new system. I’d say both teams have made improvements since then.”
Miley Sherrill leads BNL in scoring at 10.5. She had 10 points in the workout against the Bull Dogs. North’s only loss was a 77-54 setback against Brownsburg, one of those teams that overpowered the Stars.
“It will be tough, they’re good,” Burton said. “They do a good job. I’m sure they’re better now.”
BNL’s second-round opponent at Scottsburg will be either Batesville (9-4) or Scottsburg (3-9). If BNL wins, the Stars will meet the Batesville-Scottsburg winner on Friday at 6 p.m. If the Stars fall in the first round, they’ll play the Batesville-Scottsburg loser on Saturday at 11 a.m. BNL’s third game of the event will be on Saturday.
In the opposite bracket, Seymour (2-10) will face Eastern Pekin (7-4), while Franklin Central (9-6) will face Class A No.2 Borden (11-2) in the opening round.
BNL vs. COLUMBUS NORTH
When: Friday, 12:45 p.m. (at Scottsburg)
Records: BNL 4-7; Columbus North 11-1
Sagarin ratings: BNL 67.46; Columbus North 78.17
Last meeting: During the 2017 regional final at BNL, Columbus North posted a 49-45 victory.
Game notes: BNL will face either Batesville (9-4) or Scottsburg (3-9) in the second round of the eight-team tournament. The Stars are off to their worst start since the 2005-06 season, when that BNL team also started 4-7. BNL and Columbus North have not played in the regular season since the 2011-12 campaign.
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.
Columbus North Bull Dogs
F – Kenna Conrad 5-9 Jr.
F – Avery Johnson 5-8 So.
G – Kaylie Harmon 5-7 So.
G- Hadassah Hurt 5-8 Sr.
G – Sydney Johnson 5-7 Sr.
