Perry Meridian returns junior Caitie Baird, senior Camry Ege, junior Ariana Booker and senior standout Sadie Hill.
PERRY MERIDIAN (14-10) – Coach Mike Armstrong (402-288) starts 32nd season at helm … milestone 400th came last season against Center Grove … youth movement underway … only three seniors, four juniors, four sophs and nine freshmen … younger players on Marion County runner-up seventh- and eighth-grade teams … returning starters: senior and Indiana All-Star hopeful Sadie Hill (17.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 58 steals), a versatile go-to player; 6-3 junior perimeter player Caitie Baird (7.1 points, 7.5 rebounds) will challenge defenses; and 5-8 junior wing player Ariana Booker (5.2 points, 2.8 rebounds) … last year’s sixth player, senior Camry Ege, moves up … 5-8 soph Savannah Pipes, juniors Molly Armstrong and Megan Bolyard and senior Taylor Hooten add depth up front … strong frosh group led by 6-4 Lauralye Simpson … good competition for some spots.
Coach’s comments: “We will field a better all-around team than we did a year ago. In the second half of the season we played really well and had a strong finish. We have three players with a lot of experience back and about nine with very little varsity experience. It’s blending those two groups together on offense and defense to see what we have.
“Some of the freshmen are pushing the older kids for playing time at the varsity level. We have to see how the pieces fit. We want to be strong defensively, more disciplined on offense and handle the ball better. We have to cut down on our turnovers that hurt us in critical situations last year. We have a really competitive schedule; hopefully we can get a better start this year, but there will be some growing pains.”
Coach’s comments: “We will field a better all-around team than we did a year ago. In the second half of the season we played really well and had a strong finish. We have three players with a lot of experience back and about nine with very little varsity experience. It’s blending those two groups together on offense and defense to see what we have.
“Some of the freshmen are pushing the older kids for playing time at the varsity level. We have to see how the pieces fit. We want to be strong defensively, more disciplined on offense and handle the ball better. We have to cut down on our turnovers that hurt us in critical situations last year. We have a really competitive schedule; hopefully we can get a better start this year, but there will be some growing pains.”
SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY NATAN PACE Perry Meridian senior forward Sadie Hill looks to lead lead the Falcons.
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