KNIGHTSTOWN — The game did not have the drama of the 1986 movie “Hoosiers” but the experience to play, and coach, on the home court of the fictional Hickory Huskers outweighed the final outcome on the scoreboard after Saturday’s 19th Annual Hoosiers Reunion All-Star Classic at Hoosier Gym.
“No one cares about the score, it’s just a joy to watch talented kids,” Eastern Hancock girls basketball head coach Shari Doud said.
Doud retired from coaching after this past season. She was a high school head coach for 20 years. Her teams had winning records in 19 of those seasons. This past campaign, she led the Royals to the Class 2A Final Four and school all-time best 25-2 record. She won 336 games during her career.
On Saturday, she was the head coach of the Terhune Tigers, and like her Eastern Hancock Royals, they were dressed in blue and white.
Her team included Mt. Vernon’s Ellery Minch, a member of this year’s Indiana Senior All-Star team, who is headed to play at DePaul University in Chicago next year.
“I’ve read about her in the paper but this gives me a greater appreciation for her talent level,” Doud said. “She’s going to dominate (at DePaul). They got a winner.
“(I really like) her versatility. She can take someone down on the block and finish, shoot the 3, handle the ball well and she’s 6-2. She’s a special and rare combination in a player. She has it all.”
Minch had 16 points in Saturday’s game, including the first two of the contest, but in the middle of the second quarter the team representing the Hickory Huskers pulled away, eventually defeating Terhune 124-82.
Ten of 13 players that will play in the June Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series participated in the game, including Miss Basketball Chloe Spreen of Bedford North Lawrence (Alabama), who played for Hickory. The Huskers’ team included Fort Wayne Snider’s Jordyn Poole (Purdue), Noblesville’s Reagan Wilson (Iowa State), Carroll (Flora) guard Alli Harness (Western Michigan) and Indian Creek post player Faith Wiseman (Indiana).
Doud, who was assisted by long-time friend Melissa Winkler, the head coach at Rushville, had a team that included Minch, Jennings County’s Juliann Woodard (Michigan State), Center Grove’s Audrey Annee (West Point, Army), Fishers’ Talia Harris (Mercer) and Hamilton Heights’ Camryn Runner (Evansville).
“(One of) the most enjoyable parts was to sit next to Melissa on the bench and experience the game together,” Doud said. “She’s a good friend. We’ve coached against each other for 20 years. When they said I could invite another head coach to join me in this I didn’t have to think about it for two seconds. That was a lot of fun.”
“It was also a lot of fun to have Ellery Minch on the team. She was one of the best kids on the floor,” Doud added. “I’d never seen her live. That was really enjoyable.”
It’s the start of a busy all-star season for Minch. She’ll play three more games as part of the Indiana All-Star team, one against the Indiana Junior All-Stars and two in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series.
“I’ve never played or been (to Hoosier Gym). I’ve watched (the movie), but it’s been awhile,” Minch said. “The town, the bus (from the movie) out front, it’s really surreal and it’s a really cool gym.”
Minch said it was nice to play against good competition ahead of the all-star games, as well as prior to her first season at DePaul and in the Big East Conference.
“I think I played pretty well,” Minch added. “As a senior, I don’t do AAU any more. You don’t really play that many games now and trying to get ready for college and going into the summer getting a couple runs in and being able to play against girls of the same talent is good.”
Minch began practicing with the all-star team on Sunday.
“This kind of kicks off everything for us,” Minch said of Saturday’s all-star game. “I’m really excited. A lot of great people have been able to be Indiana All-Stars and I’m honored to be one and be a part of this experience.”
