Sophomore center Faith Wiseman (22) averages a double-double for Indian Creek this season.
Daily Journal file photo
Standing every bit of 6-foot-4, Indian Creek center Faith Wiseman carries the appearance of a double-double about to happen.
To Wiseman’s credit, she delivers more often than not.
Architect of 12 double-doubles in points and rebounds this season, Wiseman helps lead the Braves into the postseason after finishing the regular season 18-4 and winning the Western Indiana Conference with a spotless 10-0 record.
Indian Creek, a defending Class 3A sectional champion after cutting down the nets at Speedway last February, plays host this season, starting with its first-round matchup against Indianapolis Ritter tonight at 6 p.m.
Wiseman even averages a double-double — 12.2 points and 10.9 boards. These numbers are complemented by her 3.2 assists and 3.2 blocks per contest.
The numbers aren’t Wiseman’s primary emphasis.
“I just focus on the game, on winning and on playing as a team. I just want to get everyone looks at the basket, and look for opportunities for the right shot,” Wiseman said. “We just have to take one game at a time and prepare. You can’t overlook a team.”
Particularly this time of year.
Battle-tested after starting in the post as a freshman, and an offseason playing for the Indiana Elite Platinum travel team, Wiseman isn’t defined by being the tallest player on the court.
Her confidence is fast catching up to her size.
“One, Faith has become a more aggressive rebounder. She’s not just relying on her height, just to put her hands up,” Indian Creek coach Brian Ferris said. “She’s going after it. She’s blocking out and wanting that ball.
“And then, on the offensive side, when she’s in the post, she’s learned to deal with a lot more contact because she takes a beating when she gets down there. She’s really matured in both of those areas.”
Wiseman’s top performance points-wise this season is the 22 she scored in a 56-26 win over Brown County. Other personal bests include snagging 18 boards against Greenwood Christian and twice being credited with seven blocked shots (against Sullivan and North Putnam).
Meanwhile, she’s found time to demonstrate a deceptively effective perimeter shooting touch, having knocked down 12 3-pointers.
The third of Eric and Michelle Wiseman’s five children, as well as the lone girl, Faith long ago grew accustomed to getting things done in a crowd. She began attending Indian Creek as a fifth-grader and has been growing her game — and just plain growing — ever since.
“Playing AAU really helped me,” Wiseman said. “It kind of brought out more of an attack mode in me, and I learned to play more of an outside position, too, so that I could play both inside and out.”
Indian Creek enters postseason play on a seven-game win streak.
The goal now is to maintain momentum and pick up the program’s eighth sectional championship, though potential roadblocks exist at every turn.
Since 2016, Indian Creek and Ritter have played four times, each winning twice. The Braves began last season’s tournament push by downing the Raiders, 48-34, in the first round.
“Obviously, you can’t count Ritter out because they have a good program. We just have to keep playing, do what we do best and not look past anyone,” Ferris said. “I think our defense has gotten better throughout the season, along with our rebounding across the board.
“And, obviously, just to have our own identity as a team. Kids who played maybe spot minutes last year are playing bigger roles this season. We have more people involved this season, and they’re taking ownership.”
