CHARLOTTESVILLE — They want more.
Eastern Hancock is coming off a historic girls basketball season, winning the program’s first regional championship, a third sectional title in school history, the program’s first conference championship in 24 years and a school record 23 wins.
Typically those types of teams are senior heavy, but that wasn’t the case for the Royals.
They have a lot of people back, a key newcomer, and sites set on matching and surpassing what was accomplished last season.
“The bar I have set with this team is higher,” Eastern Hancock head coach Shari Doud said. “The girls want to do more, that’s their vision out of the gates. They know where they got, they know where they want to return and they know where they want to climb beyond that. All the capabilities are there, we just have to put it together as the season goes on.”
Eastern Hancock will miss its only two graduates from last year’s 23-4 team, point guard Grace Stapleton and forward Emma Bolding, two four-year veterans.
Stapleton set school records in career assists (414), career 3-pointers (202), and 3-pointers in a season (85). She graduated second on the all-time scoring list (1,110 points) and second in steals (277).
Bolding played in 95 games in her career and had over 300 rebounds (313) and over 500 points (576).
With three starters and members of a deep bench coming back and a talented incoming freshman, Eastern Hancock could be in line for another special season.
“(It will take) believing in one another,” senior Ruby White said. “I think if we all work together we can do just as well or not better.”
The Royals have five seniors returning, including three starters, and all have been members of the varsity for four seasons.
A 6-1 forward, White was, literally, a big factor in last year’s success.
White averaged 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, but down the stretch those numbers increased.
In a crucial sectional-round victory over Triton Central, White, with the Royals leading by one point at halftime, took control in the final two quarters.
She scored all of her team-high 15 points in the second half, hitting 7 of 11 field-goal attempts, including 5 of 7 in the fourth quarter. She had 10 points and six rebounds in the final period alone. She added another 15 points in the sectional championship game victory over Scecina and scored 11 in the regional final win over University.
Sammie Bolding (5-4, guard) is the top returning scorer. A Division I commitment in softball (Toledo), she averaged 12.1 points last year to go with a 2.3 steals, 2.2 assists and two rebounds per game.
She had her postseason highlights, too. Against University in the regional final, she scored 26 points in a 51-47 win, hitting 6 of 8 3-point tries. Sammie Bolding scored 13 fourth-quarter points.
Recovering from surgery, Bolding will miss some time at the beginning of this season but is expected to play later.
Makenzie O’Neal (5-7, guard), was integral last season, too. Another returning starter, O’Neal averaged 6.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals.
“How far we are going to go will depend on how much we want to win and how hard we’re going to work,” O’Neal said.
Brooklyn Willis (5-4, guard) and Sydney Springman (5-3, guard) are the other seniors. Both were key players off the bench. A three-sport standout and softball commitment to the University of Indianapolis, and an all-conference volleyball player, Willis averaged 2.6 points, 3.6 rebounds. 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals.
Springman is another multi-sport standout. A champion hurdler on the track and field team, the athletic Springman averaged 3.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals.
“I just can’t give enough praise to my seniors and sticking together,” Doud said. “Sometimes if you have a group of five you might lose a number or two out of a group like that. Those five have stayed close. They’ve had goals since I’ve had them in sixth grade. It’s very special to continue to be a part of their journey.”
Roles will increase for a pair of talented juniors. Ellie Meyer (5-9, guard/forward), is another multi-sport star. She’s earned all-conference in volleyball and was a state qualifier a year ago in the high jump. She averaged 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds as a sophomore.
Camryn Anrdus (5-5, guard) averaged 2.8 points and will be one of the Royals better perimeter shooters. Doud said she has shown great improvement from the offseason.
New to the team is 5-8 freshman point guard McKenzie Koch.
She is expected to step right in and take the point guard spot formerly held by Stapleton.
Doud said a number of Division I programs have already shown interest in the frosh.
“She is a playmaker, a scorer. She has a complete game,” Doud said of Koch. “She makes people around her better by her style and her need to distribute the ball. She told me she’d rather make plays than score herself, yet she is clearly a scorer, too.
“She sees the court like no other player I’ve coached.”
Eastern Hancock opens the season on the road Thursday at Morristown. The home opener is Saturday night against Rushville. The first Mid-Eastern Conference game is Nov. 14 at Union (Modoc).
“We have some honor roll students when it comes to the intellect of the game. They get it,” Doud added. “And, they’ve all played together for so many years they know each other. They know tendencies, sometimes it’s a well-oiled machine and you just sit back and watch them play.”
“They’ve got a feel for that, a feel for success, a feel for the uproar of community backing. They got a monster taste of that and they are in the gym now with a hunger for more.”
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2023-24 Eastern Hancock Girls Basketball Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
Nov. 2;at Morristown;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4;vs. Rushville;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11;at Triton Central;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14;at Union;6 p.m.
Nov. 16;vs. Cowan;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 21;at Shenandoah;7:30 p.m.
Nov. 25;vs. Wapahani;1:30 p.m.
Dec. 2;vs. Northwestern;3 p.m.
Dec. 5;vs. North Decatur;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12;at Lapel;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15;vs. Knightstown;6 p.m.
Dec. 19;at Wes-Del;6 p.m.
Dec. 21;at Monroe Central;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 30;at Law. North Invite;10 a.m.
Jan. 3;vs. Blue River Valley;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6;vs. Union County;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9;at New Castle;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13;vs. Waldron;12:30 p.m.
Jan. 18;vs. Daleville;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23;at Randolph Southern;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 25;vs. Tri;7:30 p.m.
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2023-2024 Eastern Hancock Girls Basketball Roster
No.;Name;Cl.;Ht.;Pos.
1;McKenzie Koch;9;5-8;G
2;Bella Sotelo;9;5-5;G
4;Lainee Parker;11;5-10;F
5;Addy Trackwell;10;5-8;G/F
11;Brooklyn Willis;12;5-4;G
14;Kiersten Judd;10;5-10;F
21;Sydney Springman;12;5-3;G
22;Ellie Meyer;11;5-9;G/F
23;Camryn Andrus;11;5-5;G
30;Ruby White;12;6-1;F
33;Makenzie O’Neal;12;5-7;G
55;Sammie Bolding;12;5-4;G
Head Coach: Shari Doud
Varsity Assistants: Ed Clark, Steve Doud, Clarissa O’Neal, Rex Putt
JV Head Coach: Cory Rainbolt, Terry Stephens
Managers: Hailee Riggs, Lilli Maxwell, Tatem Adams
