Hillsboro 2021-22 Girls Basketball Preview: Lady Indians have high expectations
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Second-year Hillsboro Lady Indians head coach Chad Fields says his team is no longer a “young team,” after his players went through a tough season one year ago with six wins and a fourth-place finish in the Frontier Athletic Conference.
This year is different, as the Lady Indians didn’t lose a single player from that roster to graduation, and they gained a valuable year of experience playing in the FAC, so they know what to expect this season. That also means Fields has more expectations for his team for the 2021-22 season, as they finished with a 6-13 record, with a 4-6 mark in the FAC, last year.
“Our expectations for this season are very high. Our ladies know now what it takes to compete at a very high level, and we expect to do that day in and day out,” Fields said.
“We are no longer the ‘young team’ on everyone’s schedule this season. We return our entire team from last season, so we look to compete for an FAC championship. Our ladies know that this hasn’t been accomplished in 20 years – a conference title – so that is the expectation this season, to win the FAC.”
Winning the conference isn’t the lone objective for Hillsboro, as they have three goals, according to Fields.
“Our ladies all had three common goals in mind for our season,” he said. “One, win a FAC championship, which hasn’t happened in 20 years. Two, beat (McClain), which also hasn’t happened in a very long time for our program, and lastly, win a sectional championship.”
Seniors for the Lady Indians are Brynn Bledsoe (guard), Gracie Dean (guard), Eden Edenfield (center) and Sinai Roberts (forward). Juniors this season are Susanna Barney (forward) and Mya Bell (forward).
The sophomore class consists of Reagan Eastes (forward), Morgan Garman (guard), Addyson Miles (guard), Rylie Scott (guard), Madisyn Taylor (center) and Gracie Thoroman (forward). Freshmen this season are Peighton Bledsoe (guard) and Blake Herdman (forward).
In the ’20-21 season, Dean led the Lady Indians with 14.1 points per game, along with 6.3 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game and 2.7 steals per game.
In 2020-21, Dean was an All-FAC and All-District selection, while Bledsoe was an honorable mention All-District selection.
Fields described last season as a rebuild for the HHS program as it was his first season as the head coach, but this season he expects the program to take the next step.
“Last season was a ‘rebuild year’ for our program. This season we are building upon that foundation that was laid out. We are already miles ahead of where we were last season at this time,” Fields said.
“Our ladies understand what is expected of them and know what they need to do to achieve our goals this season.
“With our team not losing anyone to graduation, our returners have really been great leaders for our incoming freshman in setting the expectation high. Our focus as a team is getting better at our weaknesses every day and learning as much as possible from each other.”
Part of the process of improvement came this offseason, especially this past summer where the Lady Indians continued to play as a team and worked to improve their craft on the court.
“This offseason has been awesome for our ladies. In my first summer with the team, we were not really allowed to do many team activities due to COVID, but this summer was completely different for us,” Fields said. “In June our ladies played in a summer league against some of the best teams in southeast Ohio. We also attended team camp at Cedarville University, where I believe our ladies learned what it means to play physical basketball with some very competitive competition. Our team bonding has been amazing, and the girls are really starting to come together.”
This year the conference will be tough once again, plus Hillsboro’s schedule away from the FAC is strong as well.
“The conference looks to be very competitive this season again,” Fields told The Highland County Press. “Miami Trace and McClain always have great athletes and are very well-coached. Chillicothe and Jackson both return their entire teams, and Washington will be much improved as well.
“We have a tough non-conference schedule again this season. Adena, Western Brown, Wilmington, East Clinton and Goshen are just some of the teams to name that all have very talented teams that are really going to help prepare us for those tough league games and in the tournament.”
Hillsboro opens the 2021-22 season on Friday, Nov. 19 on the road at Blanchester.
[[In-content Ad]]
This year is different, as the Lady Indians didn’t lose a single player from that roster to graduation, and they gained a valuable year of experience playing in the FAC, so they know what to expect this season. That also means Fields has more expectations for his team for the 2021-22 season, as they finished with a 6-13 record, with a 4-6 mark in the FAC, last year.
“Our expectations for this season are very high. Our ladies know now what it takes to compete at a very high level, and we expect to do that day in and day out,” Fields said.
“We are no longer the ‘young team’ on everyone’s schedule this season. We return our entire team from last season, so we look to compete for an FAC championship. Our ladies know that this hasn’t been accomplished in 20 years – a conference title – so that is the expectation this season, to win the FAC.”
Winning the conference isn’t the lone objective for Hillsboro, as they have three goals, according to Fields.
“Our ladies all had three common goals in mind for our season,” he said. “One, win a FAC championship, which hasn’t happened in 20 years. Two, beat (McClain), which also hasn’t happened in a very long time for our program, and lastly, win a sectional championship.”
Seniors for the Lady Indians are Brynn Bledsoe (guard), Gracie Dean (guard), Eden Edenfield (center) and Sinai Roberts (forward). Juniors this season are Susanna Barney (forward) and Mya Bell (forward).
The sophomore class consists of Reagan Eastes (forward), Morgan Garman (guard), Addyson Miles (guard), Rylie Scott (guard), Madisyn Taylor (center) and Gracie Thoroman (forward). Freshmen this season are Peighton Bledsoe (guard) and Blake Herdman (forward).
In the ’20-21 season, Dean led the Lady Indians with 14.1 points per game, along with 6.3 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game and 2.7 steals per game.
In 2020-21, Dean was an All-FAC and All-District selection, while Bledsoe was an honorable mention All-District selection.
Fields described last season as a rebuild for the HHS program as it was his first season as the head coach, but this season he expects the program to take the next step.
“Last season was a ‘rebuild year’ for our program. This season we are building upon that foundation that was laid out. We are already miles ahead of where we were last season at this time,” Fields said.
“Our ladies understand what is expected of them and know what they need to do to achieve our goals this season.
“With our team not losing anyone to graduation, our returners have really been great leaders for our incoming freshman in setting the expectation high. Our focus as a team is getting better at our weaknesses every day and learning as much as possible from each other.”
Part of the process of improvement came this offseason, especially this past summer where the Lady Indians continued to play as a team and worked to improve their craft on the court.
“This offseason has been awesome for our ladies. In my first summer with the team, we were not really allowed to do many team activities due to COVID, but this summer was completely different for us,” Fields said. “In June our ladies played in a summer league against some of the best teams in southeast Ohio. We also attended team camp at Cedarville University, where I believe our ladies learned what it means to play physical basketball with some very competitive competition. Our team bonding has been amazing, and the girls are really starting to come together.”
This year the conference will be tough once again, plus Hillsboro’s schedule away from the FAC is strong as well.
“The conference looks to be very competitive this season again,” Fields told The Highland County Press. “Miami Trace and McClain always have great athletes and are very well-coached. Chillicothe and Jackson both return their entire teams, and Washington will be much improved as well.
“We have a tough non-conference schedule again this season. Adena, Western Brown, Wilmington, East Clinton and Goshen are just some of the teams to name that all have very talented teams that are really going to help prepare us for those tough league games and in the tournament.”
Hillsboro opens the 2021-22 season on Friday, Nov. 19 on the road at Blanchester.
[[In-content Ad]]