Columbus North’s Olivia Johnson, left, shoots over Columbus East’s Leah Bachmann during the annual girls basketball rivalry game at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022.
The Republic file photo
Columbus North girls basketball fans will see a whole new look to the team this season.
With three seniors graduated and two returning starters from last year not going out for basketball this year, it will be a much different rotation and starting lineup on the court for the Bull Dogs this year.
The key returners coming back include senior Olivia Johnson, junior Hadassah Hurt and sophomore Miley McClellan. Senior Kaitlin White, juniors Sydney Johnson and Paige Terry and sophomore Kenna Conrad will also factor into the rotation.
The top freshmen coming into the program for North include Kaylie Harmon, Avery Johnson and Ava Wilson. Avery Johnson and Harmon, who is playing the point, were the team’s top scorers in last week’s scrimmage against Lawrence Central.
Columbus North’s Miley McClellan dribbles against New Albany Nov. 18, 2022, at Columbus North.
The Republic file photo
Senior Kathryn Wilson, who would have been the team’s leading returning scorer and rebounder, has decided to focus on tennis, where she is the defending state singles champion. Junior Kennedy Horn and senior Elise Preston also did not return.
“We only have three girls back who were in our main rotation last year. Early on, it’s just going to be about getting out there and being thrown into the fire and getting some experience,” North coach Brett White said. “Initially, that’s going to be part of our challenge is getting use to a varsity level opponent and varsity level speed.”
One of the factors that the Bull Dogs will be at a disadvantage in is size. They will be without a girl 6-foot or taller in the main rotation.
Brett White said that one of the biggest focuses he’s practiced with the team is collectively rebounding and being aggressive to chase down the basketball, and also trying to prevent the opposition from easily getting into the post.
“We’re not going to be able to rely on one or two people (to rebound). We really worked on being aggressive and going after the basketball,” Brett White said. “Defensively, one way from keep getting it in the post is to pressure the basketball and actually making it difficult getting into the post. That’s going to be a focus of ours as well is having good ball pressure and not making easy passes to the post, something that teams will be able to do.”
North dropped games with Hamilton Southeastern, Lawrence North and Lawrenceburg this year and have added two newcomers to the schedule in Mooresville and sectional foe Shelbyville. The Bull Dogs also will play in a holiday tournament for the first time since 2019 when they play in the Scottsburg tournament Dec. 27-28.
North is the three-time defending undefeated Conference Indiana champions. That streak could be in serious jeopardy this year with both Bloomington South and Bloomington North looking to battle for supremacy in the conference.
“Just because we’re young we still feel like we have a lot of skill,” Brett White said. “With the returnees that we have, they’ve all made improvements, they’ve all put work into their game, and we have freshmen that obviously wouldn’t be in the mix for varisty if they didn’t have some skill. Our freshmen group as well as our older group have really put in time in the offseason. The skill factor is there, it’s just a matter of learning that sometimes there’s different parts to the varsity game that maybe they haven’t experienced before.”
The 2023-24 Columbus North girls basketball schedule:
Saturday vs. Franklin, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 7 vs. Mooresville, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 vs. Martinsville, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Southport, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 16 at New Albany, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Terre Haute North, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 28 vs. Shelbyville, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 vs. Terre Haute South, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 at East Central, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 vs. Seymour, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 14 vs. Columbus East, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 vs. Jennings County, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 at Franklin Central, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 27 vs. Eastern (Pekin) in Scottsburg Tournament, 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 27-28 at Scottsburg Tournament, TBA
Jan. 6 vs. Bloomington South, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 9 vs. Carmel, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 11 at Center Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 at Silver Creek, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 at Bloomington North, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24 at Rushville, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 25 vs. Roncalli, 7:30 p.m.
