Just six and a half years removed from the end of her own playing career, Ashley Fouch still has an abundance of youthful energy.
So the first-year Whiteland girls basketball coach knows that her team has plenty as well — and she hasn’t been at all hesitant to make them burn it off.
“I’m definitely trying just to build their grit up and making them learn how to sacrifice for each other, and pushing their bodies to a different level than what they’ve been to,” Fouch said. “And I think that’s the biggest thing for me — knowing that on defense, that you can go a lot harder than what you think you can. …
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“I am going to push them to the point where they’re going to lay down at night and they’re going to feel it in their bones.”
So far this preseason, the Warriors have definitely been feeling it, but they also don’t see that as a bad thing. Coming off of an 11-14 campaign, the girls are eager to get back to the form that saw them win 34 games over the previous two years.
A solid returning core, led by senior Gracie McCullars and a handful of juniors that got plenty of meaningful experience last winter, should be equipped to do so — especially after such a demanding preseason.
“After every practice, we’re usually a little sore, a little tired,” junior guard Kylee Marlin said. “Which is definitely good for us because I think that’s what what we needed. We just needed that extra boost of intensity.”
Fouch, who spent the last three seasons at Class A Daleville and led the team to its first-ever sectional championship this past winter, has certainly brought it.
She’s driving her players hard — but she’s also not shy about getting out on the court and mixing it up with them. That willingness to walk the walk has made it easier to get the girls to do the same.
“I think it helps them sometimes, honestly,” Fouch said, “just knowing that I still do have it a little bit and that I’m not here to just coach them; I’m here to mentor them, too, and I’m here to have a little bit of fun with them.”
“I can speak for all of the girls — we love our new coaches,” McCullars said. “They’re fantastic. They push us; they challenge us constantly on the floor. They have helped us become better individuals on and off the floor.”
The COVID-19 pandemic took away most of what the traditional offseason would have been for every team — but that lost time leaves a bigger mark on teams like Whiteland that are trying to adjust to a new coach and a new way of doing things.
But the Warriors did still get a little bit of time together during summer workouts and conditioning, and Fouch doesn’t seem to be worried about being behind provided her players keep doing the necessary work between now and next Tuesday’s season opener at Crispus Attucks.
The players, too, are trusting the process.
“With how Fouch is preparing us, I think we’re pretty good,” Marlin said. “She’s given us everything we need, and I think we’re ready.”
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1. Which nonconference opponent are you most looking forward to facing?
Probably Shelbyville. We’re not playing them at Shelbyville, but if we were, I love playing in their gym. And last year was a close game, so I’m ready to come back.
2. Which unknown player on this team will become a household name this winter?
Probably Gracie Taylor. She played some last year, but I feel like she’ll come out this year and do well.
3. Given the ongoing pandemic, how concerned are you about the season being interrupted in some way?
I’m actually really worried about that. I’m hoping that it won’t happen, but there’s always that chance, and I’m hoping we can keep our fans coming in and supporting us — and even if we can’t have fans, at least have it broadcasted so we can still play.
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Head coach: Ashley Fouch
Last season: 11-14, lost to Center Grove in Class 4A sectional semifinal
Top returnees: Kaylee Denham and Gracie McCullars, seniors; Braylyn Clendenen, Muskaan Ghuman, Olivia Gieseking, Debbie Hill, Kylee Marlin, Emily Reed and Gracie Taylor, juniors; Eliza Unsworth and Emma Piercy, sophomores
Key newcomers: Tatyana Olivier, sophomore
Outlook: The Warriors took some lumps last winter with a largely green lineup, but with most of those players returning and energy running high under first-year coach Fouch, expectations are again being raised. McCullars, the team’s top scorer a year ago, should again get help from a deep junior class led by Clendenen (8.5 ppg last season) and Marlin (6.2). Whiteland will need to develop some more experienced help on the interior after the graduation of Toni Joyner, but there should be enough veteran perimeter talent to keep the team afloat until the other pieces fall into place. Getting back above .500 is certainly a reasonable bar to set.
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