Winning the boxscore is something Regan Wentland doesn’t — or simply won’t — do with great frequency.
It’s not that the Center Grove senior forward isn’t qualified. Standing 6-foot-1, Wentland, because of her extensive reach, has proved to be a matchup nightmare at both ends of the court for virtually every one of the Trojans’ opponents.
She’s Center Grove’s third-leading scorer (9.8) and rebounder (3.9), second in assists (2.4) and steals (3.3) and first in blocks (1.7).
Therein lies Wentland’s effectiveness — being very good at a number of things instead of simply focusing on one or two.
“Regan is the Dennis Rodman of our team,” sixth-year Center Grove coach Shawn Sanders said. “She wants to guard the other team’s best player and is easily our defensive leader. The player who wants to get the deflections and loose balls. She can defend point guard to post for us.”
Wentland’s apprehension comes with shooting the basketball. Her 60 field-goal attempts through nine games is third among Trojans players behind guard Jessica Norris (69) and forward Ali Line (61).
“It’s just not in Regan’s nature. She feels so selfish (if she shoots). This is our senior. Our captain. And she feels bad for shooting,” Sanders said.
Said Wentland, “I don’t want my teammates to think I’m selfish.”
Little risk of that considering Wentland has so far this season cracked double figures in shot attempts only once — 10 in last week’s 74-46 victory against Bloomington South.
She launched nine in lopsided victories against Southport and Decatur Central. Hardly out of the ordinary considering Wentland attempted only 7.6 shots a game as a junior while still managing an 8.3-point scoring average for a 16-4 squad.
“My main focus is definitely defense,” said Wentland, who as a four-year starter has played a major role in Center Grove’s 48-24 record (.667) since the outset of the 2011-12 season.
“I never really took pride in my defense until high school. It’s then I started using my length to make a difference.”
In another time in another program, Wentland might be asked to double or even triple her number of shot attempts as a means to ensure team success.
Not necessary at Center Grove. With three of her classmates — Norris and forwards Bri Gliesmann and Line — also fixtures in Sanders’ starting lineup, along with junior Lauren Rau running the point, Wentland need not stray from her comfort zone.
How many shot and pass attempts Wentland ultimately alters over the course of a basketball game are numbers few know about simply by perusing a postgame stat sheet.
Likewise Wentland hasn’t been bashful about letting teammates hear when the Trojans aren’t playing to their potential.
But Sanders knows. And appreciates.
Wentland signed last month to play women’s basketball at Indiana State University for Sycamores coach Joey Wells beginning with the 2015-16 season. She’s part of an incoming freshman class that includes junior college transfer Ashley Taia, 5-7 guard Tierra Webb out of Richton Park, Illinois, and 5-11 Indianapolis Ritter guard McKenzy Telfair.
The role Wentland plays at
the next level likely will evolve over time.
For now, the player whose career-high is 20 points (Bloomington South) remains content doing a lot of the little things that need done for the Class 4A No. 4 Trojans.
Center Grove hosts Martinsville tonight and Pike on Saturday before beginning preparations for the annual
Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle’s Chrysler Fieldhouse
on Dec. 26.
All four games play right into Wentland’s comfort zone.
“I like competitive games
more than blowouts,” she said. “I feel I play better against the better teams because my team needs me.”
To score, that is. Go ahead and assume Wentland is already doing everything else.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”THE WENTLAND FILE” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Regan Wentland
Age: 17
Family: Parents, Ron and Deb; brother, Davis, 21
Favorite TV show: “Keeping up with the Kardashians”
Favorite food: Taco Bell
Favorite movie: “The Last Song”
Favorite athlete: Gordon Hayward
Favorite team: Indiana Pacers
[sc:pullout-text-end]
