Indiana University recruit Faith Wiseman draws plenty of attention from opposing defenses.
Daily Journal file photo
When Lauren Foster and Faith Wiseman found out that they’re sharing Daily Journal Player of the Year honors in girls basketball this season, each genuinely seemed happier for the other than for herself — which makes Indian Creek’s team success this winter make even more sense.
Everyone knew the Braves had talent, but it was the ability of that talent — especially the two junior stars in the middle of it all — to blend together seamlessly and craft a 27-2 season that included county and sectional titles, the program’s first regional championship and a trip to the Class 3A semistate final.
“We’ve played with each other for so long, since fifth grade, so we just know how to work off each other,” Wiseman said. “We kind of lived off of pick-and-rolls in middle school, and we carried into high school. We just read each other really well; it’s fun to play with Lauren.”
Depending on what night you caught the Braves, you might come away believing either Foster or Wiseman was their best player. In a big early-season win at Franklin, it was Foster pouring in a career-high 35 points and willing Indian Creek to victory. In a semistate semifinal rout of Bishop Chatard, the 6-foot-4 Wiseman led the way with her 21 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots.
But both have been indispensable. Foster has already scored 1,355 points in her three seasons and has a chance to make a run at Kylee Hamilton’s school record of 1,944. Wiseman is a double-double machine who’s on track to join Ally Lehman as the only Braves to ever surpass 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.
Having the other one around makes life considerably easier for each of them.
“It just takes the pressure off,” Foster said. “Knowing that if we don’t have something, that they will.”
Wiseman drew even more attention to herself when she verbally committed to Indiana University in the fall, and teams understandably wanted to keep the ball out of her hands. Foster’s ability to create shots — not only for herself, but for her teammates — made denying Wiseman far more difficult.
Take one away, and the other will likely destroy you.
The two are inseparable in so many ways — both were named Indiana Junior All-Stars earlier this week — yet their games are so completely different. When asked what part of the other’s game each would like to incorporate into her own if she could, both Foster and Wiseman quickly reached for the obvious something they don’t currently have in their own arsenals.
“Her moves, her post moves,” Foster said of Wiseman. “Just the way her footwork and stuff like that. And being tall would really help — even if I did those moves, I would probably get blocked.”
“Definitely (Foster’s) shooting, her consistency,” Wiseman replied. “Her hitting basically all her free throws. She’s just an amazing shooter.”
Even if Wiseman never matches Foster’s shooting percentages and Foster doesn’t magically grow another eight or nine inches, Indian Creek will head into the duo’s senior season on everybody’s radar, with the highest of expectations. Both players noted that what made this past season so special was that everyone enjoyed one another regardless of results — and that having fun will again be paramount when they run it back for the last time next winter.
“We need to enjoy it, too, especially since this is our last season,” Foster said. “We just need to play together, play loose, and the rest will come.”
ALL-COUNTY TEAM
The 2023 All-County team for girls basketball:
Audrey Annee, Center Grove junior: Stepped into a leading role for the Trojans and helped them to their first semistate appearance since 2007 … Scored a team-leading 13.0 points per game and shot 40% from 3-point range … an honorable mention All-State pick.
Abby Fleetwood, Indian Creek senior: Brown County transfer made an instant impact, contributing 6.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.6 steals and 1.7 blocked shots per game in helping the Braves to the Class 3A semistate final … Honorable mention All-State.
Lauren Foster, Indian Creek junior: Named to the IBCA’s Underclass All-State team after leading the Braves to a 27-2 season and a regional title … Scored a team-best 18.6 points per game, shooting 60% from the floor overall, 49% from 3-point range and 92% from the foul line.
Lauren Klem, Franklin junior: Led the Grizzly Cubs to a third straight sectional title, averaging 6.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.2 steals with a 4-to-1 assist/turnover ratio … Routinely guarded opponent’s top player … All-Mid-State Conference selection.
Faith Wiseman, Indian Creek junior: Indiana University recruit lived up to billing, posting averages of 16.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots while leading Braves to a 27-win season and a regional championship … Named as one of IBCA’s “Supreme 15” Underclassmen.
Honorable mention
Lilly Bischoff, Center Grove; Savanna Bischoff, Center Grove; Aubrie Booker, Center Grove; Erica Buening, Franklin; Gracie Crawhorn, Edinburgh; Addison Emberton, Whiteland; Keira Goins, GCA; Savannah Hall, Indian Creek; Gwen Higdon, Whiteland; Ella Hobson, Center Grove; Lily Howe, Greenwood; Kyndell Jochim, Franklin; Scarlett Kimbrell, Franklin; Ayla Lollar, Indian Creek; Emma Piercy, Whiteland; Ella Stivers, Greenwood; Carly VonDielingen, Whiteland; Sydney Waldron, GCA; Rachel Wirts, Center Grove; Brooklyn York, Franklin
