For most high school basketball players, the biggest rush usually comes from knocking down a big shot.
Not Natalie Stuck.
The Whiteland senior guard has been one of the best on-the-ball defenders in Johnson County for a few years now, and she still gets as much of a thrill from shutting down opponents or creating turnovers as she does from scoring.
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“Defense has always been one of my favorite things about basketball,” Stuck said. “Maybe my intimidation to other people helps create stops, and it really feels good when we do get stops, especially on our 1-2-2 when Taylor Mirowski’s up there. I like to clap in people’s faces and be a little intimidating.”
Most of the time, it works. Stuck averages almost three steals a game for the Warriors, who will be hosting a Class 4A sectional beginning tonight. Whiteland (15-8) drew a first-round bye and will face either Center Grove or Martinsville in a Friday semifinal.
Primarily a defensive stopper off the bench for the Warriors as a freshman and a sophomore, Stuck took on more of a lead guard role last season, doubling her scoring average to 8.4 and dishing out a team-high 3.7 assists a night. She’s been just as effective this season, again leading the team in assists (4.3) and ranking third on the team with 9.2 points per game.
What’s changed is how she’s getting her points. Stuck has attempted about half as many 3-pointers this season as she did a year ago; instead, she’s making more trips to the foul line, where she’s making shots at a 74 percent clip after making just 51 percent as a freshman.
While making steady gains offensively, Stuck has remained a feared defensive presence. She had a season-high seven steals in a county tournament game over Franklin, and she matched that total in the regular-season finale at Mooresville. In every game she’s played this season, Stuck has come up with at least one theft.
Her presence was missed when Stuck missed a pair of early-season games with a concussion. Whiteland coach Kyle Shipp said that it took the guard a couple of games to regain her footing, but he’s been particularly pleased with how she’s played in recent weeks.
“When she’s out of the game, you miss her ability to pass the basketball,” Shipp said. “You lose her offensive ability to stretch the floor, to be able to get to the paint, doing all those things. And then obviously, defensively, she’s kind of the kingpin on, ‘You’re going to guard their very best player, and we’re going to see if we can put the clamps on her.’
“When she’s out of the lineup, you’re not only missing the big stuff, but you’re missing all of those intangibles as well.”
Stuck, who recently committed to play college basketball at IU Northwest, is looking forward to having the opportunity to play her final sectional at Glenn Ray Gymnasium, where the Warriors are 18-1 over the last two seasons. A one-point overtime loss to Roncalli in late November (the game during which Stuck was injured) is the lone home-court blemish during that stretch.
Despite that run of success, Stuck isn’t considering any game this week a given.
“Our team is pretty happy — especially the seniors, in our last year, we’re excited to play the sectionals on our home court,” Stuck said. “But we’ve just got to go game by game and prepare for every team.”
Just as opposing guards will have to prepare for her.
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Class 4A Whiteland Sectional
Favorite: Center Grove
Keep an eye on: Martinsville, Whiteland
Players to watch: Center Grove — Ashley Eck, Ella Thompson, Emma Utterback, Mary Wilson; Franklin — Kuryn Brunson, Hailee Robbins, Bayleigh Torrance; Franklin Central — Rachel Loobie; Greenwood — Brooklyn Stubblefield, Bailee Taft; Martinsville — Marlayna Kemp, Bethany Mackin, Pa’shence Walker; Whiteland — Megan Harlow, Toni Joyner, Taylor Klenner, Natalie Stuck
Outlook: Having posted a perfect 6-0 mark against the field, including two wins over Martinsville, Center Grove comes in as a clearer favorite than it has in years past. There are still some potential landmines, however; the Trojans’ second win over the Artesians was by just four points, and Whiteland is 18-1 on its home court over the past two seasons. Both are capable of knocking Center Grove off — provided they can find a way to crack the stingy Trojan defense and neutralize the dynamic backcourt duo of Thompson and Utterback. Much easier said than done.
Class 3A Indian Creek Sectional
Favorite: Danville
Keep an eye on: Indian Creek, Tri-West
Players to watch: Beech Grove — Alexiana Blakely, Mya Crawford, Tia O’Connor; Danville — Ella Collier, Jenna Cowart, Maddie Patterson; Herron — Rylee Butcher, Alethea Harnish; Indian Creek — Katie Burkman, Hannah Grider, Jessie Hart, Caitlyn Snyder; Indianapolis Manual — Latonay Shropshire; Tri-West — Maggie Cora, Kenna Kirby, Grace Sandlin, Carli Wilson
Outlook: The good news for the Braves is that a) they’re at home; and b) either Danville or Tri-West will be eliminated right off the bat when the two meet tonight. The bad news is that no matter which of those teams Indian Creek sees in its Friday semifinal, it will face a formidable team with a 20-point scorer in Cora or Collier. The Braves did hold Cora to five points on 0-for-11 shooting in a 50-35 home win over Tri-West on Dec. 22; if they can replicate that defensive effort against either opponent Friday, they’ve got a good chance to advance out of this sectional for the first time in three years.
Class A Edinburgh Sectional
Favorite: Trinity Lutheran
Keep an eye on: West Washington, Edinburgh
Players to watch: Crothersville — Piper Hensley, Makinzee Isley, Maddie Riley; Edinburgh — Sidney Beier, Haven Link, Annelise Lollar, Destiney Ramey; Medora — Kailen Flynn, Kelsey Turner; Trinity Lutheran — Savannah Harweger, Sydney Janes, Hannah Sabotin; Shawe Memorial — Kate Grote, Abigail Hill, Grace McAllister; West Washington — Maddie Bowsman, Hattie Griffitts, Kassidy Keltner, Sara Stice
Outlook: The Lancers have had competitive games with both of the top teams in the draw, losing at Trinity Lutheran by seven and against West Washington by 11. To come out of this sectional, they may well need to beat both. Shawe’s Grote was arguably the best player in this field, but she suffered a torn ACL two weeks ago and likely won’t be as effective if she does play. If Edinburgh can survive tonight’s opener, it should be playing for the title on Saturday.
Class A Greenwood Christian Sectional
Favorite: Greenwood Christian
Keep an eye on: Tindley
Players to watch: Central Christian — Ali Lance, Asia Van Rhoon; Christel House — Brooklynn Justin, Tiffany Schultz; Greenwood Christian — Savvanah Frye, Alexis Mead, Izzy Reed; Indianapolis Lutheran — Anna Castor, Rylee Morris; Providence Cristo Rey — Jamya Clay, Alexcia Thorpe; Tindley — Darryn Hood, Sanaila Turner, Aniya Washington
Outlook: Expect a championship rematch between GCA and Tindley. The Cougars won a 50-38 clash at the Central Christian tournament two weeks ago behind 32 points and 21 rebounds from Reed, who’s averaging a double-double this season. The Tigers aren’t quite as potent as they were last year, and the field as a whole doesn’t pack much of a punch — three of the state’s bottom 12 teams in the Sagarin ratings are in the draw, including GCA’s first two opponents. It will be a shock if the Cougars don’t make the final, and a mild surprise if they don’t win their first sectional crown.
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Class 4A Whiteland Sectional
Today
Franklin Central vs. Franklin, 6 p.m.
Martinsville vs. Center Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Franklin Central/Franklin winner vs. Greenwood, 6 p.m.
Martinsville/Center Grove winner vs. Whiteland, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class 3A Indian Creek Sectional
Today
Tri-West vs. Danville, 6 p.m.
Herron vs. Beech Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Indian Creek vs. Tri-West/Danville winner, 6 p.m.
Indianapolis Manual vs. Herron/Beech Grove winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class A Edinburgh Sectional
Today
Trinity Lutheran vs. Crothersville, 6 p.m.
West Washington vs. Edinburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Medora vs. Trinity Lutheran/Crothersville winner, 6 p.m.
Shawe Memorial vs. West Washington/Edinburgh winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class A Greenwood Christian Sectional
Today
Central Christian vs. Greenwood Christian, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Tindley vs. Indianapolis Lighthouse South, 6 p.m.
Providence Cristo Rey vs. Indianapolis Lutheran, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Christel House vs. Central Christian/GCA winner, 6 p.m.
Wednesday’s winners, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
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