Hornets off to a strong start

Beech Grove is ready for the new season with (front) senior Brie Spurgeon, senior Olivia Pich, sophomore Cameron Cardenas; (back) Mallory Storms and Kristan Folks.

BEECH GROVE (11-2)  – New coach Kristin Raker, former Perry Meridian player, takes over Hornets’ helm … former coach Mark Parker an assistant with coach/sister-in-law Katie Gearlds at Marian University … Raker will draw on hardwood knowledge of dad Gary Raker, who was an Indiana All-Star at Beech Grove and assistant Emily Ringham, a member of the Hornets’ 2003 state championship team … graduated five seniors with combined 13.7 ppg, 9.7 rebounds … Hornets had 15.1 steals per game last year … sophomore stars 5-9 Cameron Cardenas (19.1 ppg, 5.2 steals, 3.5 assists) and 5-11 Katie Giller (10.6 ppg, 10.1 rebounds) lead the Hornets … returnees include seniors in 5-4 Kristan Folks (4.1 ppg, 2.8 assists), 5-8 Olivia Pich (2.6 ppg) and 5-10 Brie Spurgeon & 6-0 sophomore Mallory Storms (2.0 ppg, 1.2 rebounds) … won four of last six games last year … looking for first winning season since 2010 … opened Nov. 10 with 61-34 win over Tri-West and defeated Greencastle 52-43 Nov. 14. 
​
Coach’s comments: “I have confidence in these girls although everything is new to them this season. We don’t have much size in the middle so we will have to play physical on both ends and move the ball on offense. Cardenas is an all-around tremendous player who makes the whole team better and Giller can play anywhere on the court. The girls are working hard and we have a lot to look forward to as the season progresses.”

First-year coach Kristen Raker (right) has returned to the area to mentor Beech Grove. Dad Gary Raker, a former Indiana All-Star from Beech Grove, is among her assistants.