Sophomore Lauren Foster drives to the basket on her way to a 23-point effort in Indian Creek’s win at Whiteland.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
When a freshman accounts for nearly 400 points the way Lauren Foster did last season, novelty is eventually replaced by expectation.
Consider it a basketball crossroads of sorts.
While some might find the challenge daunting, Foster, Indian Creek’s leading scorer at 16.1 points a game, is making the transition appear seamless.
The 5-foot-7 sophomore isn’t scoring as much in the Braves’ 10-2 start — she averaged 17.4 ppg a year ago — but her numbers have spiked in rebounds (3.8), assists (3.5) and steals (2.1). Splitting time at the point and 2 positions, Foster has also made a concerted effort to take better care of the basketball.
Foster’s statistical input has been vital in the continuation of the program’s winning ways.
Indian Creek is 27-9 since Foster made her varsity debut, including a 13-2 mark against Western Indiana Conference competition. The Braves are primed for their fifth consecutive winning season and seventh in the last eight years.
Foster’s backcourt skills are the ideal complement to how teammate Faith Wiseman, a 6-4 sophomore study in wingspan averaging 12.6 points and 11.3 rebounds, is capable of dominating the interior at both ends of the floor.
Not to be overlooked are the complementary roles played by junior wing Savannah Hall, senior guard Emily Todor, junior forward Lauren McClanahan and freshman guard Ayla Lollar. They’ve all factored into what Indian Creek has managed to accomplish on the hardwood, winning eight straight since bowing out of the county tournament in November.
And to think there was a time not long ago when Foster was part of a different school system.
Foster and Wiseman began playing travel basketball as teammates in elementary school when Foster was part of Center Grove Schools. A friendship developed, and Foster transferred to Indian Creek in time for the start of her eighth-grade school year.
“It was just a better family feel, I already knew Faith, and she’s my best friend,” Foster said. “We’ve known each other since third grade when we played on the same basketball team.”
During the offseason, Foster played for the Indiana Showcase travel hoops team. The experience allowed her to expand her skill set both as a player and leader.
“It was just, like, getting new moves. I had a specific move that I used last year, but I wanted to get more versatile than that, and improve my shooting and shot selection,” Foster said. “I call myself a combo guard. I got better at getting (inside) and passing outside.”
Foster’s knack for taking what the defense gives her allows her to occasionally drive inside, draw contact and show off her 80% accuracy at the free throw stripe. So far this season, nearly a quarter of the sophomore’s points have come from that spot.
More is expected this year since she’s had a year under her belt.
“Her defense and rebound have improved a great deal,” fifth-year Braves coach Brian Ferris said. “Lauren is so darned quick that if you get the defensive rebound, and we got it in somebody’s hands that we want, you’re off to the races already.
“We maybe use her more as a primary ball-handler, being the point guard whenever Todor’s not in there, or it’s a situation where maybe (Foster) has the hot hand, and we want the ball in her hands more.”
