Lady Eagles Look To Repeat As District Champs
After winning their first district championship since 2013, Sullivan brings back many of the same players from that squad Tuesday when they open the season at Rolla.
Sullivan head coach Jason Merkel feels good about what his team can accomplish.
“I’m optimistic in what we have,” Merkel said. “You don’t want to get too far ahead and we’re missing a couple of those players that were big for us, but I’m optimistic for a good start. Practices have been good and competitive. I think we’re ready.”
Sullivan played in a Jamboree Nov. 11 against Parkway North, the team that eliminated them from sectionals last March. Parkway North was not the typical Class 4 team. The Lady Vikings consistently showed up in Class 5 Final Fours before being bumped down a level. When Parkway South and Fort Zumwalt North dropped the Jamboree, Merkel seized on the opportunity to compete against last season’s nemesis.
“I jumped on that one just to see what they were like,” he said. Sullivan could very well play Parkway North if the two teams get through districts again. “I was happy with how we played.”
Last year’s team featured a well-balanced lineup that featured a variety of ways to beat teams. The Lady Eagles could run-and-gun, shoot from the outside and look inside.
But after the graduation of senior guards Jenna Lochner, McKenna McCoy, Emma Randolph and Kate Randolph, Sullivan’s experience is mostly in the front court with seniors Clare Shetley, Lauren Hoffman and Sophie Sellers. Along with combo guards Mallory Shetley and Katie Creek, all five of those players range from 5-foot-8 to 6-feet, giving the Lady Eagles a size and strength advantage that Merkel said they have to utilize.
Senior guard Bria Jones led the team with 14 points per game last season and she will handle some of the point duties. Lochner had the reins to the offense last season and was a pass-first point guard, but Jones can score anywhere from the floor and Merkel said she’s comfortable in that role. Sullivan can also lean on some other players like Hoffman to handle the ball.
“Bria doesn’t have to be (pass first),” Merkel said. “She can take girls off the dribble and we have actions to get her looks.”
Jones shot 43 percent from 3-point range a year ago, easily leading the team, but Merkel said there are four to five other players who are capable of success beyond the arc.
The Lady Eagles were quick last season and Merkel said they would try to get out and run, but the pace will be taken down a notch this season. “We have to be inside-outside and look inside as much as possible,” he said. “We have to be more methodical and a bit more selective. It’s kind of opposite this year.”
The depth was a big strength for Sullivan last year. Merkel could count on nine to 10 players taking on minutes and that should continue this season. “I feel good about our depth starting out,” he said. “We’ll have eight full-time varsity players and two girls who will split between varsity and junior varsity.”
Varsity newcomers are freshman Hanna Johanning, juniors Zariah Richards and Vittoria Polanowski and senior Vivy King. Sophomore Riley Lock suffered a knee injury during the first week of practices and will be out for a couple months.
Merkel’s best teams have been stalwarts defensively. Last year, the Lady Eagles held opponents to just 41 points per game. In their previous district championship campaign, Sullivan limited the opposing team to 39 points per game. Merkel described the defense — at least in the early going — as a work in progress. Merkel said the players are still adjusting to new roles on that end.
Upcoming
After Tuesday’s game, Sullivan will be off until Monday, Nov. 27 when they take on Francis Howell in the Marquette Tournament. The Lady Eagles have dropped out of the Lindbergh Tournament