No one will question Mason Britt’s statistical contributions to the Indian Creek boys basketball team over the past two seasons.
Nonetheless, if the Braves hope to piece together a seventh consecutive winning season, Britt, a 6-foot guard, must bring more to the court than all-out hustle and a sweet perimeter stroke.
The senior needs to have his voice heard and his actions mirrored.
“I definitely have to be a better leader, and I have to get other people involved so that they can get their shots,” said Britt, who led a 17-8 Indian Creek squad in scoring (17.7) and rebounding (6.9) a year ago. “It can be hard sometimes. You just have to have that trust with your teammates.”
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Britt, a student in the Center Grove schools through eighth grade, has been at Indian Creek his entire high school career. His role within coach Drew Glentzer’s program has gradually increased, but the graduation of senior leaders like Xavier Ferris and Colby Marker place a different kind of burden on Britt.
In the past six seasons, Indian Creek’s scoring average as a team hasn’t dipped beneath 61.5 points per game. Glentzer’s team last winter posted a 68.2 norm, Indian Creek’s second-highest mark this century.
The Braves could test that mark in the next few months. Not only do they bring back Britt, but 6-5 senior forward Ethan Williams (10.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-9 classmate Christian Wiseman (5.6 ppg) and junior guard Javan Crouch (10.1 ppg) are back, as is another 6-5 senior frontliner, Gavin Hillenburg (3.2).
“We’re a good-shooting team from the perimeter, and our post game has improved immensely,” Glentzer said. “We have three guys who, when they get the ball, are going to score. But we definitely start with Mason.
“He’s been around a lot of good leaders, and, for him, the cart will follow the horse. Mason is not a natural vocal leader but leads by example. He’s a very hard worker and is very competitive. This team is capable of scoring a lot of points.”
Britt would like to be the next Braves player to join the school’s 1,000-point club. He comes into this season with 612 to his credit.
“It will be important,” he said. “I know that I set that as a goal my freshman year, and I would be very happy if I was able to do that.”
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Head coach: Drew Glentzer
Last season: 17-8, lost to Beech Grove in championship game of Class 3A sectional
Top returnees: Mason Britt, Gavin Hillenburg, Ethan Williams and Christian Wiseman, seniors; Javan Crouch, junior
Key newcomers: Bryce Armstrong, Braxton Christie, Ethan Garriott and Aidan Neathery, juniors; Nolan Ankney and Aiden Pemberton, sophomores
Outlook: After a season-opening loss at Franklin last season, the Braves tore off 10 victories in a row before losing to Center Grove in the semifinals of the county tournament. This team has the parts necessary to again be one of the favorites in the Western Indiana Conference, but only if it’s able to develop an identity defensively. That will be particularly important considering five of the Braves’ first eight games are on the road.
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1. Which nonconference opponent are you most looking forward to facing?
Probably Franklin, since they beat us early in the season last year. It was a real hard-fought game. Back and forth.
2. Which unknown player on this team will become a household name this winter?
Christian Wiseman, our center. He’s just learned how to dominate down low and use his height. As a team, it gets us excited that we’re going to mesh well together as a team.
3. Given the ongoing pandemic, how concerned are you about the season being interrupted in some way?
I try to look at it as normal, but also look at it as though this could be our last practice or game.
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