Senior guard Aiden Pemberton, right, looks to again play a key role for Indian Creek.
Indian Creek point guard Aiden Pemberton finds himself on basketball’s version of an island this season.
Stranded, however, he isn’t.
The lone senior on the Braves’ roster, Pemberton is relishing the role of elder statesman during preseason practices as Indian Creek looks to bounce back from last season’s 5-17 finish that ended with a first-round sectional loss.
“It’s a little different from the past few years when we’ve had five or six seniors, but it’s not anything I can’t handle,” said the 5-foot-9 Pemberton, who averaged two points and two assists during the 2021-22 season. “I have a lot of leadership roles to pick up, but I’m enjoying it.
“I talk all the time, so I’m a leader more by speaking than by example.”
Pemberton will be in full-voice for a program that lost eight games by single-digit margins a year ago, the last three by a sum of 11 points.
Coach Drew Glentzer, now in his sixth year, feels his squad has the talent to flip some of those close losses into wins.
One of the main factors being that 6-foot-4 forward-center Landon Sichting and 6-foot guard Adam Crouch, untested freshmen at this time last year, got to experience everything from various defenses to hostile crowds by playing crucial roles.
Sichting assembled an impressive debut season, averaging 10.4 points and 6.2 rebounds. Crouch emerged as a scoring threat late in the season, making his final numbers (5 ppg, 3 rpg) a bit deceiving in terms of his potential.
Junior guards Trent Volz and Carter Modlin return after posting norms of 3.4 and 3.0 points a game, respectively.
“We have a lot of kids who played a lot of minutes as freshmen and sophomores last year,” Glentzer said. “I think they have a good understanding that they have a chance to be a good team. Our strength is our depth.
“We have nine kids who are going to play a lot, and each one brings a unique skill set. We can play multiple defenses and cause turnovers, and we want to play fast.”
In last season’s final outing, a 65-63 sectional loss to Indianapolis Washington, Crouch tallied 16 points and Sichting 14.
“A lot of the young kids, they got some minutes in,” said Pemberton, who recently made the Daily Journal’s All-County boys tennis team with Sichting as his doubles partner. “We do have good depth, and we have a lot of players who can fill any of the starting roles.”
Look for it to begin with the team’s lone 12th-grader, who should, according to his coach, be poised for a productive season.
“We’re in a unique position with him as the only senior where we’re trying to vocalize some younger kids who aren’t very vocal,” Glentzer said. “Aiden is a real tough kid who plays hard and has kind of gotten better each year.
“He’s going from being a role player to playing expanded minutes.”
SCOUTING THE BRAVES
Coach: Drew Glentzer
Last season: 5-17, lost to Indianapolis Washington in first round of Class 3A sectional
Key returnees: Aiden Pemberton, senior; Carter Modlin and Trent Volz, juniors; Adam Crouch and Landon Sichting, sophomores
Top newcomers: Brady Connel and Caleb Yount, juniors; Bobby Emberton and Brayden Lowhorn, sophomores
Outlook: On paper, the Braves seem to have what it takes to be a force the two seasons following this one. That’s not going to stop them from attempting to produce a winner this winter after being victorious only five games — their lowest total since the Braves’ 4-17 finisher in 1997-98 — last season.
The 6-foot-4 Sichting will be counted on to use his size and experience after starting as a freshman. Crouch and Pemberton are experienced backcourt talents, as are Volz and Modlin. A transfer from Greenwood, Emberton is 6-5, which could benefit the interior play; Connel and Lowhorn are both 6-2, while Yount is a 6-foot guard.
Indian Creek promises to be tested early and often, with five of the first eight games being on the road. The opener on Nov. 22 is against Class 4A regional finalist Franklin, with the Braves playing at defending Class A sectional champ Edinburgh four nights later.
