Columbus East’s Jenna Guse, in white, attempts to steal the ball from East Central’s Caitlyn Dick Nov. 16, 2022 at Columbus East High School .
The Republic file photo
It’s a new era in Columbus East girls basketball.
Danny Brown, who coached the Olympians to more than 300 wins over the past 20 seasons, has retired. Gone, too, is Indiana All-Star Saige Stahl, who was one of the state’s top scorers and rebounders last year and now is playing at Indiana State.
Kaitlyn Phillips, a former player and assistant coach at Whiteland, has taken over the East program and has them ready for Tuesday’s season opener against Purdue Poly Englewood.
“Honestly, it’s probably been the best first week-and-a-half of practice I’ve ever been a part of,” Phillips said following Wednesday’s scrimmage against Jennings County. “They have competed every time. They ask questions all the time. It is a little bit of a slower pace just because we’re putting in offenses every day and new defenses every day, and that kind of slows it down. But we’re learning, and they are engaged and active the whole time, so it’s been good.”
Phillips and the Olympians received a big boost just before school started when 5-foot-7 senior Madelyn Poe, who has been the leading scorer at Hauser the past two years, transferred to East. Poe averaged 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals last season.
Former Hauser player Madelyn Poe shoots a free throw against Shawe Memorial Nov. 15, 2022, at Hauser. Poe has transferred to Columbus East.
The Republic file photo
With Poe stepping into the point guard role, that will allow 5-9 senior Jenna Guse, who ended last season at the point, to play more of a shooting guard role. Guse, the Olympians lone returning starter, averaged .4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 steals.
“I definitely feel pretty confident about them,” Phillips said. “What has been really good is just the reps that they’ve been able to get together in the last week-and-a-half. They’re really starting to figure how to play off of each other, which will be huge for us. They have some good chemistry going right now, and that also gives our third guard, (5-5 sophomore) Kenzi Cheek, some experience to handle the basketball, and that kind of propels us to long-term next year and the year after that when Kenzi is going to handle the ball a lot more.”
Messiah Trapp, a 5-9 senior, saw plenty of action last season. She is playing in the post along with a pair of newcomers to high school basketball — 5-6 senior Savanna Sullivan and 6-1 senior Caroline Frost.
Frost, the sister of former Purdue player Matt Frost, has focused on volleyball throughout her high school career.
“I started joking with her at the start of the school year that she should play basketball,” Phillips said. “One of our assistant coaches had coached her when she was younger and finally convinced her to come on out, and you can already tell she’s going to be a pretty important piece of what we’re going to do this year. Caroline has done absolutely everything I’ve asked her to do over the last week-and-a-half, and she’s putting forth a starter effort and a starter skill-set.”
Two other players — 5-6 senior Victoria Cuhadar and 5-9 junior Kimberly Carothers — saw action last season. Also pushing for varsity time are 5-8 sophomore Brelyn Pool, 5-3 freshman Lola Watkins, 5-7 sophomore Ella Anthis and 5-8 junior Ellie Schlaudroff.
“I think we’re on just kind of a week-by-week basis right now,” Phillips said. “I think the mantra of our season is going to be process oriented instead of result oriented and just getting them to buy into what practice looks like every day and trusting that process is going to work itself out, and the wins will come as the time goes on.”
The 2023-24 Columbus East girls basketball schedule:
Tuesday vs. Purdue Poly Englewood, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday vs. Bloomington South, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 7 vs. Roncalli, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 at Fishers, 11:30 a.m.
Nov. 11 at Hamilton Southeastern, 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 15 at East Central, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 17 vs. Mooresville, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 18 at Corydon Central, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Brownstown Central, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Bloomington North, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 vs. Floyd Central, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 vs. Jeffersonville, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 14 at Columbus North, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 vs. North Decatur, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 vs. Greensburg, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 4 at Seymour, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Bedford North Lawrence, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs. New Albany, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 18 at Jennings County, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Madison, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 23 vs. Silver Creek, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 25 at Cathedral, 7:30 p.m.
