It’s too early to determine whether Tim Abel will be viewed as one of the best boys basketball players in the history of Indian Creek High School.
Either way, that was always his objective.
As far back as second grade, Abel would invite friends over to his house. They would lower Abel’s adjustable basketball goal to 8 feet and begin launching imaginary game-winners for their hometown team.
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A decade later, Abel, a 6-2 senior guard, will be counted on to lead the Braves, who return three starters from last season’s 16-8 squad.
A dependable varsity performer since his freshman season, Abel remembers his first start — a 70-53 victory at South Decatur midway through the 2013-14 season.
“I had played in varsity games before, but never started,” Abel said. “I had like 12 points and five assists in that game. As a freshman, I just didn’t want to make a mistake with all those juniors and seniors on the floor.”
Last season Abel led the Braves with a 17.4 scoring average. He also produced norms of 4.5 rebounds and two assists.
“Tim is a hard-nosed kid. A gym rat. A kid who puts in the extra time,” seventh-year Indian Creek coach Derek Perry said. “And he’s a good leader in practices and games.
“He’s paid his dues as a player and is someone a lot of our younger kids look up to.”
Joining Abel in the Indian Creek roster for a third consecutive season is 6-foot junior Jared DeHart, whose well-rounded game produced averages of 13.7 points 4.7 rebounds, six assists and 2.3 steals last season.
Also back is forward Bryce Hogue. The senior was good for 13 points and 6.5 boards over the course of the 2015-16 season.
Such experience will be vital early on.
Indian Creek’s regular-season schedule begins with nine consecutive road games, the last of those at the Monrovia tournament Dec. 29 and 30.
The Braves’ first home date is Jan. 7 against Brown County.
If there’s a positive flipside, it’s that Perry’s squad is scheduled to play five games on its own floor from Jan. 30 through Feb. 18.
Indian Creek also gets an opportunity to play in the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown on Feb. 11 against Culver Academy.
The Braves have won 10 or more games in every one of Perry’s first six seasons as coach.
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Coach: Derek Perry
Last year: 16-8 overall, 8-1 Mid-Hoosier Conference; lost to Indianapolis Northwest in first round of Beech Grove Sectional
Who’s back: G Tim Abel, PG Jared DeHart, F Bryce Hogue
Who’s gone: Tyler Parks, Gynson Robley
New kids on the block: G Trevor Ankney, G Isaiah Lacey, F-C Noah Maness, F-C Drew Pierce, G Dalton Pruitt, G Zach Pugh
Outlook: With three-fifths of the starting lineup a lock, the question is which players will complete the Braves’ lineup or serve as valuable backups as the program enters its first year of play in the Western Indiana Conference. Guard choices are many with Pugh, Ankney, Pruitt and Lacey. Meanwhile, Maness and Pierce will be counted on to give Hogue help along the front line.
Perry Says: “We go to a new conference, and that’s kind of an unknown. But those three guys (Abel, DeHart and Hogue) have won a lot of high school basketball games. Our practices have been really competitive, and I think we’ll be a fun team to watch when we’re clicking. But to be successful, we also have to make defense a priority.”
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Date;Opponent;Time
Nov. 26;at Edinburgh;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2;at Owen Valley;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 3;at Oldenburg Academy;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9;at Cloverdale;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 16;at Edgewood;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 20;at Martinsville;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29-30;at Monrovia tournament;TBA
Jan. 7;Brown County;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10-14;Johnson County tournament at Whiteland;TBA
Jan. 21;Cascade;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 27;Western Indiana Conference playoffs;TBA
Jan. 30;Greensburg;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 2;Whiteland;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10;Indianapolis Herron;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 11;Culver Academy;11 a.m.*
Feb. 17;Central Christian;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 18;Hauser;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 21;at Greenwood;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24;at Greenwood Christian Academy;7:30 p.m.
* – at Hoosier Gym in Knightstown
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