For me, there will be much excitement and anticipation as part of the girls basketball regional Saturday at Decatur Central.
First of all, it will represent a chance to see the Anderson Lady Tribe hopefully win a pair of games and reach the Class 4A Final Four. We will have a preview of that trip in Friday’s edition.
But the presence of Lawrence North as one of the other teams at Decatur Central has ramped up my expectations.
The Wildcats are coached by Jim Etherington, who is a former head girls basketball at Pendleton Heights as well as an assistant boys coach at both Lawrence North and Anderson. That stint as a boys assistant at Lawrence North included a run of three straight state championships under head coach Jack Keefer from 2004 through 2006.
Lawrence North is 18-4 and will play Ben Davis in the 10 a.m. opener. The Wildcats were nine-point winners over the Giants during the regular season.
“We are very quick but not very deep,” said Etherington in a Tuesday phone interview. “As the year’s gone on, we’ve gotten very good defensively. We’re averaging giving up about 40 points per game. We put pressure on and take it off because we only play about seven kids. We rebound well, but we’re a small team.”
Once the Wildcats made it into the regionals,
Etherington didn’t have a preference on whether Pendleton Heights and Anderson made it into the field.
“I didn’t relish playing either one of them,” he said. “I coached at Pendleton Heights for seven years. Then I coached as an assistant under Heck (AHS coach Ron Hecklinski). I’m a Kokomo kid so I enjoyed being in the North Central Conference. I like to watch film and I enjoy working as an assistant. I thought I was getting too old to be a head coach.”
Apparently not.
Etherington is a very bright guy and he knows the game.
He has always done his homework and was often seen on scouting trips during both his girls and boys coaching stints.
I’m willing to say that he’s gotten as much out of the Lawrence North team as about any coach.
“I knew a lot of the girls from class,” said Etherington. “This has been a really good season.”
I know this would go against Etherington’s wishes, but my wish would be for the Wildcats to repeat their win over Ben Davis, followed by Anderson stopping the Pioneers from Mooresville.
Then the title game would be the Lady Tribe against the Wildcats.
Since I’m not a coach I can look forward to such things. Coaches can’t.
“Ben Davis is huge,” said Etherington. “They have a lot of size. That will be a difficult game for us.”
Etherington will have his team ready to play. I will be ready to watch.
It would be great to see a big crowd follow the Indians to the regional.
Sports Columns
Related Photos
-
Contact sports editor Rick Teverbaugh: 640-4886, rick.teverbaugh@heraldbulletin.com
Discussion
Rick Teverbaugh: Familiar face leads Wildcats
- Sports Columns
-
-
George Bremer: In with Orton, out of Luck?
There really is no offseason anymore in the National Football League.
The Indianapolis Colts haven’t played a game since Jan. 1, but look at all the headlines they’ve generated since that date. -
Quintin Harlan: If you want to honor a fallen driver just keep on racing
There are a myriad of reasons to love the Indianapolis 500. This year’s race was inundated with the emotion from the family, friends and colleagues of two-time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon.
-
Rick Teverbaugh: Spectacle lacking on local TV
The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, on television, is a myth in its own backyard.
-
Rick Bramwell: Enjoying the fruits of spring
I will go a long way to get fresh fruits and vegetables. That usually means going to the source.
Last Friday was opening day at the strawberry patch located just west of Post Road on 38th Street. They have a big sign outside. Only a few berries were ripe, but those first ripe ones are big and juicy. -
Ken de la Bastide: Race fans set for big weekend
As a racing fan, this week in May is always at the top of my list with the running of both the Indianapolis 500 and the Pay Less Little 500 on the same weekend.
The Indianapolis 500 has long been considered “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and I would contend the Little 500 at Anderson Speedway is the “Greatest Spectacle in Short Track Racing.” -
George Bremer: Can Lind find swing in Vegas?
This was supposed to be a big week for former Highland star Adam Lind. Instead, he’s in Las Vegas trying to get his head back in the game after being shipped back to the minor leagues for the first time in four years.
-
Quintin Harlan: Series evened up, why should Pacers worry?
Before the semifinal round of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Playoffs began, the term “house money” was being thrown about by us here in The Herald Bulletin sports department to describe the chances of the Indiana Pacers against the Miami Heat.
-
Rick Bramwell: Can anything not be learned online?
In the early 1940s there was an article in Popular Mechanics about the future of television. My grandfather told my dad and uncle not to get excited: “You boys know they can’t send a picture through the air.”
-
Ken de la Bastide: Will Indy 500 field 33 cars?
Pole Day this Saturday for the Indianapolis 500 will be unlike any other in recent years with plenty of unanswered questions.
Will there be 33 cars fielded for the “500”? Will drivers have to bump their way into the starting field on Sunday? -
Quintin Harlan: Farewell Coach Carter
Three years ago I received an email from Ross Buckman — a former mathmateics teacher that was subjected to having me as a student at Anderson High — telling me that he knew a gentleman that would be a great subject for a feature story.
- More Sports Columns Headlines
-
Police: 5-time Champ Johnny Tapia Found Dead
Native Americans' Olympic Medals Displayed in DC
Manning on Target at First Practice
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Relay Begins in England
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Passed to London
Selig: Oakland Move Might Be Considered
McNamee: Clemens, Canseco Had Steroids Talk
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
MLB: Mets Get 2013 All Star Game
Bernie Fine's Wife to Sue ESPN
Kyrie Irving Named NBA's Top Rookie
McNamee Says He Gave Clemens Steroids in 1998
Phelps Looks to Add to Medal Haul in London
Raw Video: McNamee Arrives at Clemens Trial
Bulls Bounced From Playoffs
Former NFL Star Junior Seau Found Dead
NFL Suspends 4 Players for Saints' Bounties
Reigning U.S. Champ Eying Olympic Gold in London
Knicks Fans Disappointed in Stoudemire
