Thinking Basketball: Past, Present, Future
Published April 2, 2012 | 
Some thoughts while looking back on the 2011-12 Indiana high school boys and girls basketball seasons, and looking ahead:
■ Indiana’s Mr. Basketball is tentatively scheduled to be announced on Sunday, April 8. And then the rest of the boys all-stars will be announced shortly after that, possibly even as early as the next day. Anyway, that’s what I’m hearing.
Like I mentioned earlier is this space, I think Hamilton Southeastern’s Gary Harris should —and will — be named Mr. Basketball. I would be surprised . . . no, make that shocked . . . if it’s anyone other than the 6-foot-5 Michigan State recruit.
■ We saw two outstanding coaching jobs en route to state championships by Carmel’s 4A Scott Heady and Guerin Catholic’s 3A Pete Smith.
Heady had good players, not necessarily great players. But they certainly bought into his program in two seasons. He molded a unified group, en route to winning the Class 4A boys state championship.
His Greyhounds could be very good next season, too. Point guard Michael Volovic and 6-5 Zach McRoberts return, along with talented backups this season in James Volovic, Michael’s twin brother, and James Crowley, and look for Ryan Cline, only a freshman this past season, to be in the mix.
This year Heady basically counted on a three-guard system. Next year, well, maybe a four-guard system, with an improved Mr. McRoberts cleaning the backboards.
What Smith did at Guerin Catholic wasn’t an overnight success. He’s been building his program from the start. And it all came together in the school’s sixth season of postseason eligibility.
And look for the Golden Eagles nation to continue to prosper. He had an exceptional senior group, but sophomores Aaron Brennan and Whit Rapp were pretty special, too. And they should be leaders the next two seasons.
LPGA Event Coming to The Hawthorns G&CC
Published April 1, 2012 | Golf is big in Central Indiana, and especially so in Hamilton County, where there are 19 courses featuring 18 holes.
Yep, plenty of places to tee it up.
LPGA My Marsh Golf Classic May 28-June 3
That’s a lot of courses for one county. That’s only three less than more populated Marion County. That says a lot for the popularity of the sport in our neck of the woods.
From the 1991 PGA Championship, to the 1993 U.S. Women’s Open, to the Pete Dye Cup National Pro-Am, to the 2005 Solheim Cup, to the 2009 U.S. Senior Open, to numerous USGA Amateur championships at Crooked Stick Golf Club, to Indiana PGA-IGA Golf Association events, our county has been a golf destination.
Make that a golf mecca . . . for players and spectators alike.
The BMW Men’s Championship (PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup) comes to Crooked Stick in Carmel in September, but the (LPGA) women golfers will have an earlier tee time . . . they’ll take center stage this spring in Fishers.
| Women’s Golf www.LPGAMyMarsh.com Click on continue reading for more information |
The LPGA My Marsh Golf Classic will be held at The Hawthorns Golf and Country Club May 28 through June 3.
The event, part of the Symetra Tour, will give golf fans a chance to see professional women’s golf up close while they come from all over the world to compete with hopes of earning their LPGA Tour Card.
Marsh Supermarkets, the Hamilton County Sports Authority and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) will host the Symerta Tour — Road to the LPGA. The inaugural $100,000 purse event will directly benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases.
Remember back when the LPGA-sponsored Mayflower Classic used to be played in Indiana — 3 years at Harbor Trees in Noblesville and 8 straight years at the Country Club of Indianapolis in the 1980s?
I do . . . It was a big thing for Indiana and women’s golf.
Now, the LPGA My Marsh Golf Classic is being billed as the next generations of LPGA superstars in the inaugural tournament at The Hawthorns. It will be contested by 144 professional women golfers from around the world.
Don’t miss it . . . I won’t.
Tigers Win 2; Guerin Catholic Drops Opener
Published March 31, 2012 | Fishers upped its season record to 4-0, picking up a pair of victories in the Warrior Spring Classic in Tennessee on Friday.
The Tigers defeated Clarksville NE (TN) 10-3 and Wilson Central (TN) 6-1.
| HS BASEBALL |
Blake Baumgartner picked up his second victory of the season against Clarksville NE in the first game. Baumgartner took a no hitter into the 5th inning before giving up a hit. He allowed 3 earned runs on 3 hits, and struck out 4 in 5 1/3 innings. The Tigers’ defense turned three double plays to back Baumgartner.
Offensively, Drew Clark connected for 4 hits, including 3 doubles. Baumgartner also helped his cause with a double, single, and 3 RBIs. Jon Simonett also added 2 hits, including an RBI double.
IU Health Sports Performance Camps Planned
Published March 28, 2012 | Hamilton County Sports Daily
Indiana University Health Sports Performance summer sports camps will offer a little bit of everything for athletes ages 7 through 10, and 11 through 14.
It’s all about expert instruction in an extremely fun setting – from drills with young athletes using resistance cords . . . to teaching sprint mechanics . . . or pulling parachutes to increase stride frequency. Or, campers may be dashing in and out of agility ladders to develop footwork.
IU Health Sports Performance
In Hamilton County, IU Health Sports Performance is located at 1402 Chase Court in Carmel. It provides services for all ages. For more information call: 317.848.5867.
“Campers are sure to improve their performance while also having a great time this summer,” said Steve Krzyminski, a certified strength and conditioning coach with IU Health Sports Performance.
IU Health Sports Performance camps use small groups, rotational stations and competitive games to keep youngsters active and engaged.
“This sort of training pays off whether your sport is soccer, softball, baseball basketball, football, tennis or just about anything else,” Scott Handlon, director of IU Health Sports Medicine & Sports Performance, Scott Handlon, director of IU Health Sports Medicine & Sports Performance, said.
Athletes of all skill levels can pick from seven speed-and-agility camps held during June and July at various sites throughout the Indianapolis area.
The day camps – with groupings for athletes in the age groups listed above – are designed to help kids develop explosive power through increased vertical jump, strength, flexibility and overall speed. The camps also are designed to help decrease risk of injury while also teaching the basics of running mechanics.
According to Handlon, such speed-and-agility training helps athletes – from youngsters to professionals – gain the skills and fitness needed to improve.
Specifically, the camps address:
■ Explosive power (first-step speed)
■ Vertical jump
■ Agility and Lateral movements
■ Overall strength, speed and flexibility
■ Reduced injury risk
The GOLF Doctor: Watch Them Grow Up!
Published March 28, 2012 | By “Doc’’ O’Neal,
Wood Wind Golf Club
Over the years I have had the pleasure to watch many young men and women grow up to become outstanding golfers….and more importantly I have seen many of them blossom into wonderful young people.
Golf truly has a way of producing good people with integrity, good work ethic, a good understanding of principles and morals, and in general, young people who grow up to be leaders.
Hamilton County has been filled with excellent young golfers, many of whom have gone on to play golf at the collegiate level and several onto the professional ranks.
Over these past 20-plus years of my active involvement in working with and being around many of these young people, it gives me a good sense of gratitude to see the impact that many of our Professionals, our Coaches, Administrators and the Parents have had on these junior golfers.
I was raised as a young golfer in Carmel and have been a part of the Carmel community all of my life. However, this Hamilton County area has been blessed with many talented golfers…..in particular I think of the State Championships produced by Noblesville, Hamilton Southeastern and Carmel over the years, and the many outstanding individual performances along the way, as well.
This county has truly produced, in my opinion, an abundance of talented young golfers. Perhaps you may wonder why…it is simple…..the hard work pays off. These young people have been taught to work hard, they have a passion for the game, and they understand that to reach the next level it is all about the willingness to work and the time that must be put into the game to achieve a high level of success.
Mr. Basketball: A Split Decision . . . really?
Published March 27, 2012 | Here’s something I found to be pretty interesting after spending 12 hours at Bankers Life Fieldhouse last Saturday.
There was a buzz, a lot of buzz in regard to Mr. Basketball.
Hamilton Southeastern's Gary Harris/HC Sports Daily photo: Steve Risley.
So, after talking to a few of my media friends, I did a survey of sorts, getting thoughts from others about who should represent our proud — Class Basketball — state as Mr. Basketball.
It was a hearty and interesting conversation.
Thoughts differed, as one might expect.
Most were split pretty evenly between Hamilton Southeastern’s Gary Harris, who’s headed for Michigan State, and Kevin “Yogi’’ Ferrell, who will play at Indiana University.
Park Tudor's Yogi Ferrell/HC Sports Daily photo: Jeff Engel.
I was somewhat surprised that there was little talk of North Central guard Ronnie Johnson. He’s a terrific player. And he has a state championship under his belt. And personally speaking, he was one of the better players I saw the past two seasons.
Both Harris and Ferrell are McDonald’s All-Americans. That’s big on any resume. Both will play in the 11th annual McDonald’s All-American game on Wednesday night in Chicago.
So who is the best, the most deserving to wear that No. 1 jersey?
Southeastern coach Brian Satterfield has said all along that Gary Harris should be Mr. Basketball.
I posed that question to Park Tudor coach Ed Schilling after his Panthers won their second straight Class 2A championship in their third consecutive appearance . . . And after Yogi Ferrell had 17 points and 12 assists against Bowman Academy.
“I don’t know what more he could do – he’s already done it – three State Finals appearances, back-to-back titles,’’ Schilling said of his sparkplug guard.
“Harris is a great player. They’ve done a co-Mr. Basketball before. Maybe that’s something to look at again.’’
For The Volovics, Basketball Just A Way Of Life
Published March 23, 2012 |
The Greyhounds are hoping to repeat their semistate celebration on the state's biggest stage Saturday night/George Sinnis/courtesy: kidsportphotos/For HC Sports Daily.
While sons Michael and James perform for the Carmel Greyhounds basketball team, Greg and Karen Volovic basically live or die with every pass, every shot, every dribble, every close finish.
Carmel's Volovic family — Greg, Michael, Karen and James — would like to watch their best film ever late Saturday night.
They’ve been doing it for a few seasons now, and their sons — fraternal twins — are only juniors.
“I just about swallowed by heart several times,’’ Greg Volovic said after the Class 4A No. 4 Greyhounds were taken to the wire by Elkhart Memorial before winning the Huntington North Semistate 62-59.
The Hounds, normally deadly at the free throw line, missed seven free throws in the final two minutes before senior Ben Gardner made two with :04 ticks remaining.
Nervous time, ‘eh?
“For sure,’’ said Greg, who’s normally much calmer than his wife who’s loud and proud and really displays her exuberance.
Mild-mannered Greg films all of the games. He’s been doing it for a while now. Actually since his boys were in the third grade. Greg posts films online for anyone interested to see. Oftimes, Greg shows them at home after games, and he and the boys talk about the games.
Both Greg and his wife will be easy to spot Saturday, when the Hounds meet Pike in the championship game at 8:15 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. He’ll have that camera rolling and she’ll be in her Carmel shirt or jacket and jumping up and down.
It terms of personally, Michael takes more after mom, and James takes more after his dad.
“Athletics are a big part of our lives. The boys enjoy competing and we obviously enjoy being part of what they do,’’ Greg Volovic said. “I was raised pretty strict, so we really only have three rules: Do good in school . . . respect adults and others . . . don’t lie. We want them to feel comfortable and relaxed in whatever they do in athletics.’’
Heady’s Dad Hopes 3rd Time Will Be A Charm
Published March 23, 2012 | Scott Heady has been to the State Finals as player and assistant coach, and on Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse he’ll be on the Carmel bench calling the shots for his Class 4A No. 4 Greyhounds against the Pike Red Devils.
Carmel Principal John Williams congratulated Scott Heady after the Greyhounds won the Huntington North Semistate. Carmel makes its first trip to the State Finals since the 1992-93 season/George Sinnis/courtesy: kidsportphotos/For HC Sports Daily.
He played at Shenandoah for his dad, Bob Heady, in the 1981 State Finals.
In 1993, he was an assistant to his dad at the State Finals.
Both times, they came away on the short end of the score, losing semifinal games in the single-class system, when you had to win two games in one day to take state.
Now, Scott Heady finds himself one victory away from winning a Class Basketball championship.
Until now, the closest he’s come to being the varsity coach for a championship team came in 2000, when he took Warren Central to a semistate.
Now, his Greyhounds figure to be favorites against unranked Pike, a team they defeated back in January.
Does he think about it all — the past, the present, what it might mean to him to win state?
“No, not really,’’ he said, matter-of-factly. “It’s not about me; it’s about our players. I want them to finish it out. I’ve had my chance. I came close . . . I had a great run . . . it was a great experience. It’s their year, their team. All I can do is maybe draw on my experience, and try to remind them to stay focused. There’s more media attention; a different stage, one they’ve never been on. Hopefully, I can help them through that.
“They’ve played big games, been in big situations, played good competition. What they need to do is get a good start Saturday, get acclimated. It’s a different feel in that type of arena. It’s a mental thing . . . they’ve got to be prepared.’’
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