Indians look for a complete turnaround
IR goes from bottom to near top in just one year
DAGSBORO — Life couldn’t get much sweeter for the Indian River High School girls basketball team.
After posting two wins and finishing at the bottom of the Henlopen South standings last year, the Indians are on the verge of a complete turnaround as they are slated to face-off with Laurel High School in the division championship.
After playing through the struggles of recent years, senior Poochie Mitchell is pleased her team is finally succeeding on the court.
“It would mean a lot to me (to win a division championship),” she said. “I’m really excited. I think we match up well with (Laurel), especially with our guards.”
Only a few elements have changed between the past two seasons. On the bench is first-year coach John Frye. Rather than take credit for the quick turnaround, he offers it to his players.
“They want it and they’ve bought into the program,” Frye said. “They really work well together as a team and pull for one another. They are just a nice hardworking, responsible bunch of kids. They’re the ones who turned it around. If they don’t want it, it won’t happen.”
Joining IR this season is senior forward Miranda Hooper, who has given the Indians support under the basket. Freshman Destiny Blake has also proved to be a strong asset.
“They’ve helped us a lot this year,” Buchanan said. “We didn’t really have anyone as skilled as them last year.”
But to earn a division title, IR must defeat a Laurel High School team that has not lost a division game all season.
In their most recent meeting with the Bulldogs on Friday, Feb. 20, the Indians led each of the first three quarters. It took a fourth quarter comeback for Laurel to remain unbeaten. Even with two losses to the Bulldogs this season, Fyre believes his squad matches up well with Laurel.
“They are a very good team and they haven’t lost in our division for a reason,” he said. “They press well and they play good defense. I think we match up well with them, it’s just a matter of execution and who has less turnovers.”
And after hearing about the struggles the team had in recent years, Frye said winning a division championship would be well deserved.
“I think it would be great; not so much for me, but for the girls,” he said. “To see where they were at this time last year, this is a great accomplishment.”
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