BY GREG MENGELT
Having a successful volleyball program is a double-edged sword for Floyd Central’s girls’ basketball program.
On the one side, the Highlanders are four weeks behind most of the other teams in the area. On the other, Highlander coach Joe Voelker will welcome three stellar state-level athletes back next week.
“You want your athletes getting used to winning in fall sports,” Voelker said of Jennifer Smith, Erica Smith and Camry Hinton, who each played on the Floyd Central squad that fell in last weekend’s IHSAA state semifinal in Muncie. “It’s been good for our school and for our basketball program, because they come in with the mentality of having success.
“Your basketball program starts four weeks behind the rest of the state, but that’s just the way it goes. The way you have to look at it is that it’s good for the school, for those players and for (our basketball program).”
Senior points guard Brigid Morrissey, who experienced success herself on the Highlanders’ sectional-championship soccer team and state-qualifying softball team last spring, seconded Voelker’s sentiments.
“I like it because they have a winning mentality,” said Morrissey, who averaged 9.3 points and a team-high 3.9 assists last season. “When they come into basketball, I feel like it carries over. It motivates us when we see them reaching their goals. I think it’s a good thing.”
It’s a situation with which Floyd is familiar. The volleyball team advanced to the state finals in each of the past two season. Last year, the basketball team started slowly as a result, but gained momentum throughout the season. After two losses in their first eight games, the Highlanders closed the regular season on an 11-game winning streak.
With four starters returning from last year’s 20-3 team, Voelker said that by February, the Highlanders should be ready to compete for their first sectional crown since 1993.
“We think we have the ability to win the sectional. We’re nowhere near close to it now and probably won’t be where need to be where we need to be on Jan. 1, but last year we made a lot of strides after January,” Voelker said of the 2008-09 team that didn’t lose a game in January and went on a 13-game winning streak that ended against Jeffersonville in the sectional championship.
“We haven’t won sectionals since, I don’t even know, more than 10 years. We thought we could get it last year and we didn’t. So that’s our main goal,” said Morrisey, who also said she would like to eclipse last year’s record-setting 20-win season.
A big reason for the high expectations is Jennifer Smith. As a sophomore last season, Smith led the Highlanders with 18 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest.
“I think she can be extremely good,” Voelker said of his 6-foot center. “She still has some challenges, as far as being more physical. I’d like to see her get her (rebound average) to double-digits and see her be more physical defensively, but those are things we’ll talk about once she gets in (from volleyball).”
Floyd Central’s other leader is Morrissey, who Voelker is depending upon to be his floor leader.
“We have high expectations for her, as far as leading our team,” Voelker said of the Furman (S.C.) recruit.
“I just want to help my teammates out as much as I can,” Morrissey said. “I want to do what it takes for my team to win. If that means I don’t score, but get 12 assists, that’s all right with me.”
Erica Smith and Hinton are the other returning starters. Hinton averaged 10.3 points and 3.1 assists last year, while Smith contributed 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds. Voelker will also count on senior Mercades Bierman and 5-foot-11 junior Morgan Rookstool for quality minutes.
“We played eight players last year and six of them are back. I feel very confident in all six of them,” Voelker said.
