<p>Whiteland girls basketball graduated 70 percent of its scoring last season, which means greater opportunity for the players who return.</p>
<p>Gracie McCullars, a junior guard who has experience both starting and being a spark off the bench, looks forward to playing a more significant role for the Warriors.</p>
<p>“I’m very excited about it. I’ve been counting down the days until our first game,” said the 5-foot-7 McCullars, who is expected to be in the starting backcourt when Whiteland opens the season at home against Indianapolis Crispus Attucks on Nov. 5.</p>
<p> “I’m going to be running the team this year and leading girls on the court and vocally. I’m actually pretty good with that. I don’t mind it at all. I actually like being a leader.”</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>McCullars averaged 5.8 points last season and was the team’s most accurate 3-point shooter, making 43 percent of her attempts. She was also the Warriors’ most dependable free throw shooter, converting at an 83 percent clip.</p>
<p>The Warriors’ main interior presence is 5-11 senior forward/center Toni Joyner, who last season averaged 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds. Other players who are mostly inexperienced at the varsity level will, in time, develop their own on-court reputations as the regular season progresses.</p>
<p>“That’s one of the things we worked on over the summer and in the preseason,” eighth-year coach Kyle Shipp said. “I think it’s going to be a communicative effort among everybody. We’re probably not going to have one or two go-to people, but more of a scoring-by-committee type of approach.</p>
<p>“And, obviously, we have to score off of our defense a little bit. We have to make sure we’re stopping people.”</p>
<p>Offensively, McCullars is coming off a season in which she converted more triples (22) than two-point baskets (16). Her season high was 15 points in a 40-32 victory over Indian Creek.</p>
<p>“To Gracie’s benefit, she’s a tireless worker. A gym rat type of kid who loves basketball and is always looking to get better,” Shipp said. “Her role now will be to play a little point guard, play a little bit off the ball. We’re going to ask her to score and probably defend the other team’s best player. Her role will dramatically expand.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="3 points with Taylor Baker" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><strong><strong>1. Besides your own, what’s your favorite gym to play in?</strong></strong></p>
<p>I like playing at Shelbyville. Their gym is really nice and big. I like playing there a lot. It’s spacious, and I like playing at Indian Creek, too.</p>
<p><strong><strong>2. Which nonconference opponent are you most looking forward to playing?</strong></strong></p>
<p>Beech Grove. I have some old AAU teammates that are on that team who I don’t get to play against very often.</p>
<p><strong><strong>3. If you could steal one skill from one of your teammates, what would it be?</strong></strong></p>
<p>Being able to handle the ball really, really well like Kylee Marlin. I can handle the ball, but I’m not like point guard level.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Scouting the Warriors" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Coach: Kyle Shipp (eighth season)</p>
<p>Last season: 15-9, lost to Center Grove in first round of Class 4A sectional</p>
<p>Top returnees: Taylor Baker, Toni Joyner, Abby Prine and Ally Prine, seniors; Kaylee Denham and Gracie McCullars, juniors</p>
<p>Key newcomers: Wilnie Joseph, senior; Braylyn Clendenen, Muskaan Ghuman and Kylee Marlin, sophomores</p>
<p>What to expect: The Warriors graduated 70 percent of their point production from a year ago, but the returnees are led by Joyner and McCullars, who averaged 9.4 and 5.8 points, respectively. The 5-foot-11 Joyner was also one of the county’s top rebounders with a 6.7 average. A winning season would give Whiteland three in a row, something it hasn’t accomplished since 2004-07.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
