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. . . ROYALTY: Pint-Sized Pep Princess . . .
Published February 21, 2012 | 
Blair Satterfield, 4 years old, is just one of the girls/HC Sports Daily photos: Steve Risley.
Blair Satterfield is only 4 years old, but she’s already helping lead cheers at the Hamilton Southeastern boys basketball games, where her dad, Brian Satterfield, is the Royals’ head coach.
Blair wears a Royal blue outfit just like the big girls. And she has her pom poms. And she has a ribbon in her ponytail. She’s just one of the girls.
Deb Satterfield said her daughter is constantly practicing cheers at home.
The IHSAA filming of the Royals after one of their basketball games — used to highlight the IHSAA events before and during televised and online Webcast events — showed up on UTube.
“The other day, Blair saw UTube and heard our school fight song,’’ said Deb Satterfield. “She’s just about learned all the words to it, too.
“She really enjoys being part of the cheer group on game nights, and the girls seem to enjoy having her on the floor with them.’’
Lightning Strikes Again In Sectional Draw
Published February 20, 2012 | What are the odds?
Hamilton Southeastern draws North Central, which is new to the so-called Hamilton County Sectional this
HSE basketball coach Brian Satterfield.
year thanks to the two-year IHSAA realignment, in the first game of Sectional 8.
Just like Southeastern drew North Central in the first game of the girls sectional.
Both Southeastern teams had another thing in common . . . both were No. 1 at the time of the blind draw.
I mean, what are the odds of such a scenario?
I put that question to Jason Wille, the IHSAA sports information director.
“I have no idea what the odds are, but it’s pretty amazing to think about,’’ he said via an email.
North Central coach Doug Mitchell.
The Royals will take it step by step, with hopes they live to play again in the one-and-done tournament format. That’s something the HSE girls were unable to do . . . play again.
As most know, the HSE girls, unbeaten at 20-0, lost to North Central in the sectional opener at Carmel.
Now, it’s the boys turn to take center stage.
Talk about having a Bull’s-Eye on your back. Yeah, it does get bigger.
You’d probably have to go back a long way to find a bigger opening-game match-up, with so much at stake, in the 102 years of the Indiana high school boys basketball tournament.
Again, what are the odds of lightning again striking that box where the little white balls with team names pop up like popcorn, or bingo?
Postseason Is Simply A Different Mentality
Published February 12, 2012 | Some thoughts and observations about high school basketball and the postseason:
We saw the one-and-done scenario in the opening round of the girls sectional, in Class 4A Sectional 8 at Carmel.
Yeah, it wasn’t pretty for top-ranked Hamilton Southeastern.
Unfortunately, what happens in the regular season means nothing. The Lady Royals came into the sectional 20-0. They went home 20-1.
The bottom line is that the postseason is an extremely different mentality.
When it comes to the tournament, you can bounce it all out the arena door. What you did to get to this point simply means nothing.
It’s simply one of those tough-but-hard lessons to learn.
Maybe the postseason should be referred to as one-and-keep-playing instead of one-and-done.
When teams enter the tournament they have to realize that Game No. 1 or any game after that could be the last.
When you lose, you don’t get to practice the next day. You just get to clean out your lockers, and reflect on what could have been. Yeah, those 20 straight wins were impressive, but they’re only a memory when you lose in the tournament, especially in your opener.
Maybe this is what makes the IHSAA basketball tournament so beautiful. Sad, yes, but many contend it’s a thing of beauty because it’s what helped make the postseason in Indiana so special for so many years.
Girls Hoops Sectionals Begin On Feb. 7
Published January 25, 2012 | Some thoughts and observations and notes on girls and boys basketball:
Hamilton Southeastern coach Chris Huppenthal will be part of Sunday's annual pairings broadcast/HC Sports Daily file photo.
>>>Sectional time is fast approaching for the girls.
The annual blind draw is Sunday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. The state tournament pairings show may be seen on television, heard on radio or viewed via webstream at www.ihsaatv.org .
Sectional play is set for Feb. 7 and Feb. 10-11.
Class 4A No. 1 and Sectional 8 favorite Hamilton Southeastern has beaten the sectional opponents it has faced, as well as everyone else in an 18-0 season so far. It has not played North Central.
Are the Lady Royals a lock?
| GIRLS & BOYS BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK>>>Update on Noblesville boys injuries; click on continue reading |
No. There’s no such a thing as being a lock in the postseason, though certainly they look to be the closest thing to a lock.
Teams to watch: North Central and Fishers. North Central has size, and has been ranked most of the season. Fishers’ fast-attacking, platooning-style concept is scary, and should be especially scary for any team that draws coach Michael Gaines’ squad, now 12-6 heading into Saturday night’s home game against No. 5 Brownsburg.
Kats Snap 4A No. 2 Hounds’ 8-Game Win String
Published January 15, 2012 | Hamilton County Sports Daily
All good things have a way of eventually coming to an end.
For Class 4A No. 2 Carmel, it happened at Kokomo’s Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday night.
Carmel, which moved into the No. 2 spot last week, fell to the Wildkats 47-40, in a well-played game where each team only committed eight turnovers.
The Greyhounds (9-2) also had an eight-game winning string snapped.
Kokomo, which was ranked as high as No. 3 earlier this season and currently stands No. 12 in the Media Poll, was able to keep Carmel off the free-throw line for the most part.
The Greyhounds, who normally shoot and make a lot of free throws, made 6-of-10. The Kats centered 15-of-19.
Kokomo also shot 51 percent from the field compared to 40 percent for the Hounds.
Six players scored, but and two players reached double figures for Carmel.
Sam Curts had 14 points, with 12 coming of four 3-point goals, and Ben Gardner scored 12 points. Shawn Heffern followed with seven points.
Carmel entertains No. 13 Pike on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot Winners Announced
Published January 10, 2012 | Hamilton County Sports Daily
The annual Noblesville Elks Lodge #576 Hoop Shoot Free-Throw Contest was held on Saturday, Jan. 7 for students residing in Hamilton County.
NOBLESVILLE ELKS #576
| Click on continue reading for list of WINNERS and PHOTOGRAPHS |
Each contestant shot 25 free throws in the local state qualifier held at Guerin High School under the direct6ion of Golden Eagles varsity basketball coach Pete Smith.
The six winners qualify to advance to the District Competition at Rockville on Sunday, Jan. 29. The District Contest will feature Lodge champions from the other Indiana Lodges within the West Central District. Competition begins at 12 noon.
Trophies were presented to the top three shooters in each category.
Hamilton SE, Carmel 1-2 In IBCA Boys Poll
Published January 9, 2012 | 
Carmel coach Scott Heady talks strategy with Michael Volovic, one of the state's top junior point guards, during last Friday's game against Center Grove/HC Sports Daily photo: Mark Morrow.
Looking for an intriguing game to jot down on your high school basketball calendar?
Coach Brian Satterfield's Royals have been ranked No. 1 twice this season/HC Sports Daily file photo.
Consider Feb. 8.
A lot could happen between now and then, but the Carmel-Hamilton Southeastern boys match-up at HSE should provide a fever-pitch atmosphere.
You see, as of Jan. 8, when the Indiana Basketball Coaches’ Association released its first poll of the New Year, Hamilton County powers Hamilton SE (9-2) and Carmel (8-1) were ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. Southeastern also was No. 1 in the most recent Associated Press media poll.
It’s believed to be the first time that two County powers have been ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in a state basketball poll.
Top 10 IBCA Rankings
Complete poll on Scoreboard
|
Rank |
School | Points | Record |
| 1. | Hamilton SE | 332 | 9-2 |
| 2. | Carmel | 280 | 8-1 |
| 3. | Muncie Central | 271 | 8-1 |
| 4. | FW Northrop | 250 | 12-0 |
| 5. | Homestead | 211 | 13-0 |
| 6. | Elk. Memorial | 185 | 10-0 |
| 7. | Park Tudor | 183 | 10-1 |
| 8. | North Central | 175 | 8-4 |
| 9. | Pendleton Hts. | 162 | 11-2 |
| 10. | Indpls. Roncalli | 149 | 9-0 |
The long-anticipated HSE-Carmel match-up certainly should offer interesting possibilities as teams start gearing up for sectionals that tip-off on Feb. 28.
Both Southeastern and Carmel are in Sectional 8 at Noblesville, and the Royals are defending champions. They defeated Greyhounds in the title game last year.
Harris Mr. Game-Changer In Battle of No.1s
Published January 8, 2012 | In a match-up of state powers, the highly anticipated battle between Class 4A No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern and 3A No. 1 Muncie Central came down to a game-changer taking center stage on Saturday night in the Lion’s Den . . .
The game-changer? . . . G a r y H a r r i s . . . who else?
After a steal, this scene has become quite familiar for Southeastern's Gary Harris. He had six steals that resulted in five dunks Saturday night against Muncie Central. He's averaging 5.5 steals per game/HC Sports Daily photos: Steve Risley.
“Yes, he’s that for sure,’’ said Muncie Central coach Matt Fine after Southeastern defeated the Bearcats 60-51, handing them their first loss in nine starts. “He’s an elite player. He makes plays . . . that’s what studs do.’’
Playing before a capacity crowd of more than 2,500 in a tournament atmosphere, Harris put the Royals on his shoulders. He scored 30 points, grabbed seven rebounds, blocked 4 shots and came away with 6 steals.
Mr. Highlight simply dominated.
One of the three shots he blocked (a 3-pointer) while gliding across the free-throw line went deep into the stands. It was an “oh my’’ presence of power. Simply spectacular. Beyond words.
And four of his dunks were thunderous. The kind that make you say, “OHHHHHH, my.’’
“Our game plan was to try and make Harris shoot jumpers and try and keep him from beating us with his defensive skills and his athleticism,’’ Fine Said. “He has great instincts. You can’t let him do those things and expect to win. He’s a terrific at both ends of the floor, and Michigan State is getting one heckuva athlete.’’
His shooting percentage wasn’t too shabby, either. Harris made 10-of-11 shots from the field and 7-of-9 free throws, while the Royals shot 53.3 percent as a team.
When asked if we’ve seen the best of Gary Harris, the soft-spoken senior just smiled in a shy manner. “I just keep trying to do my best and try to get better,’’ he said.
NCAA Shoots An A-I-R B-A-L-L With New Rule
Published January 4, 2012 | I got to know Bobby Knight quite well since we first met in 1971 at an Indiana University Alumni golf outing at the Kokomo Country Club.
It was Knight’s first year to coach the Hoosiers. He wasn’t a fan of many of us in the press. He regularly displayed a combative nature during encounters with members of the media. If you got to know him and knew what was good and what was stupid to say, then you could get along with him. I never had any problems.
I got to know him much better in 1987. While working at The Indianapolis News, I covered all but three of IU’s games in Knight’s final championship year.
My book — “Have Laptop, Did Travel’’ — is a newspaper journalist’s memoirs on sports’ grandest page. Much of the book pertains to behind-the-scenes look at high school and college basketball, with a great deal devoted to Coach Knight. You can purchase the book by clicking on Buy My Book on the banner at the top left of my home page.
I don’t know how many of you might recall some of the thoughts Knight openly shared about his dislikes when it came to the NCAA, and the way things . . . well, you get the picture. They clashed a few times, and Knight certainly was not a strong proponent of the NCAA.
Right or wrong, I can’t help but wonder what The General might say about the new NCAA rule that prohibits its member institutions from hosting, sponsoring or conducting a non-scholastic basketball practice or competition in its facilities involving prospective student-athletes.
I can only surmise.
I know what I would say: It’s a STUPID rule. It’s unfortunate because, until this year, such a scenario had not been mentioned as problematic.
Royals Fall To No. 3 In Poll; Carmel Now No. 8
Published December 18, 2011 | Hamilton Southeastern fell to No. 3 in the Indiana Basketball Coaches’ Association poll following Saturday night’s 81-76 loss to North Central, which replaced the Royals at No. 1 in weekly poll.
The Class 4A Royals (5-1), who visit No. 7 Lawrence Central (4-1) on Wednesday night, received one first-place vote. No. 2 Muncie Central got seven and North Central, now No. 1 for the second time this season, received 12 first-place votes.
Carmel (5-1), which moved up one spot to No. 8, is the only other Hamilton County school ranked among the top 20 in the coaches’ poll. The Greyhounds are idle until Dec. 28, when they entertain Avon.
Avon, which received votes, visits Fishers on Wednesday. The Tigers (2-4), who also received votes, will be looking to end a four-game tailspin.
Noblesville (4-2), which also received votes, is back in action on Dec. 29 in the Richmond Tournament. Class 3A Guerin Catholic (5-1), which also received votes in the state coaches’ poll, meet Class 2A No. 2 Hammond Noll in the Catholic Shootout at 6 p.m. Thursday at Bishop Chatard.
The HSE girls (9-0), No. 1 in the girls coaches’ association 4A poll, play host to Class 2A No. 3 Fort Wayne Luers on Wednesday.
Boys and girls coaches’ polls on Scoreboard
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