Eastern Hancock senior Grace Stapleton gets emotional as she leaves the court during their final home game against Randolph Southern.
The Daily Reporter File Photo
CHARLOTTESVILLE — The success path for the Eastern Hancock girls’ basketball team looks familiar.
Like the school’s boys basketball team that had a long tournament run a year ago, the girls team is made up of a large group of juniors and seniors that have played together since they first set foot in the doors of the Community School Corporation of Eastern Hancock County.
“Our team is different than most teams that have come through here,” senior point guard Grace Stapleton said. “We’ve all played together since we were so little and a lot of us have played multiple sports together. We’re close on the court and off the court. We hang out after games. After basketball season is over, most of us have softball season together. We’ve been close since we’ve been little kids.”
A year ago, the boys sectional and regional championship team was made up similarly with players that had played basketball together since they were in kindergarten and first grade. The girls group can say that, too, but many of them have played softball together, as well, and have won sectionals and regionals at the high school level in the spring.
They’re a group that knows each others moves and tendencies on the floor from playing so many years together.
“I think it’s really important,” senior Emma Bolding said of the long-time relationships between teammates. “I think some of the bigger schools we may face don’t have that. With Eastern, it’s one building all the way from kindergarten to Grade 12. It’s a small community. Even when the juniors were in kindergarten or when Grace and I were in kindergarten and our parents were throwing us into sports, we had each other. We were being competitive and pushing each other to do more. It has carried on throughout elementary, middle school and now high school.”
It’s led to the winningest season in Eastern Hancock girls basketball history. The Royals have won a school-record 22 games. They’re ranked No. 8 in the Class 2A Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association poll. Today’s opponent, University, out of Carmel, is 20-4, and ranked No. 9.
Along the way, Eastern Hancock won its first sectional title in six years and third in school history. It swept through the Mid-Eastern Conference with a 9-0 record, winning the school’s first conference title since 1999 and first since joining the MEC.
The Royals are 22-3 with two of the three losses one-pointers. They’ve won 13 in the row. University comes in on a 14-game win streak.
“First of all, it takes talent,” Eastern Hancock coach Shari Doud of the special group she has coached to the program’s best season. “That’s the first thing that makes this group special. That’s what a coach needs to have to be in the position we’re in right now.
“Another thing is, the two seniors and five juniors have played travel ball since (they were in elementary school). The cohesiveness on the floor, understanding how to read one another, their gameday tendencies, it all makes for some smooth play at times on the floor.”
Along with the two seniors, Stapleton and Emma Bolding, juniors Makenzie O’Neal, Sammie Bolding — Emma’s younger sister — Ruby White, Brooklyn Willis and Sydney Springman have given the team consistency and depth.
“Those seven kids playing travel ball for that many years together is a huge plus for a program,” Doud added. “Couple that with their genuine competitive drive, there are a lot of things there; talent, experienced together and they’re so dang competitive.”
Doud said it has carried over to the younger players. Sophomores Ellie Meyer and Camryn Andrus have had big moments throughout the season.
“They’ve blended in very well. (The veteran players’) drive bleeds down all the way down to the middle school kids that come to the games. There are a few reasons that makes this group special.”
Today’s meeting is the first between Eastern Hancock and University. The Trailblazers have won regional championships the last two seasons. The Royals are looking for their first.
“I think we all just really have to want it and believe in ourselves,” Stapleton added. “We’re predicted to lose (by John Harrell’s girls basketball site) but I like being the underdog and a lot of my team does, too. We all want it and have to go out and give our all every possession.”
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Class 2A Regional 21 Championship
Teams: No. 8 Eastern Hancock (22-3) vs. No. 9 University (20-4)
Time: 1 p.m., Saturday
Site: Southmont High School, Crawfordsville
Information: Tickets are $10 and may only be purchased at the door (cash only).
