Katie Burkman likes her chances when shooting unguarded from 15 feet away.
Indian Creek’s starting swingman wants to find herself doing so in abundance this season, starting with the Braves’ season opener at Martinsville on Nov. 3.
Burkman, a varsity contributor since her freshman season, made 16 of 23 free throw attempts last season. That’s 100 fewer shots than she put up from behind the 3-point stripe.
For her entire career, the senior has been about making opponents pay for not playing good perimeter defense. Burkman now wants to use her 6-foot frame closer to the basket in order to draw contact.
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“I definitely know I could help my team out more by getting to the free throw line. I’ve had people tell me that,” Burkman said. “I’ve got (perimeter) shooting down, but I wanted to concentrate on shot fakes and driving to the basket. I practiced this a lot during the summer.”
Burkman finished as the Braves’ second-leading scorer last season with her 8.4 points a game. Her 38 triples were a team high, as were her 6.5 rebounds per game and 35 blocked shots.
Second-year coach Brian Ferris knows he’ll need Burkman to up her scoring average if Indian Creek is to have a chance at posting a winning record for the ninth time in the last 11 seasons.
“Katie’s definitely gotten more physical this year. She’s not just a spot-up shooter,” said Ferris, whose first Braves squad finished 12-11. “She’s definitely going to have to have a bigger scoring load this year.”
“The adjustment of a new coach was really hard, but we expect a lot from her this season. I’m excited to see how it plays out.”
Burkman also excels in the classroom, as evidenced by her 4.6 grade-point average. Her goal is to eventually major in physics at a yet-to-be-determined college or university.
She’s also a second-year captain for the Braves, though Burkman wants her contributions to be more than statistical. Her style of leadership leans more toward by example than vocal, but Burkman looks forward to the challenge of instructing younger, less experienced teammates when the situation presents itself.
“I was a team captain last year as a junior,” she said. “We’re a pretty young team this year. Since I am a senior I definitely want to be more of a leader.”
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Coach: Brian Ferris
Last season: 12-11, lost to Danville in first round of sectional
Top returnees: Katie Burkman, Caitlyn Snyder, Heather Maddox, Kaylin Todor, seniors; Hannah Grider, Ali Harris and Lauren Pendleton, juniors
Key newcomers: Jessie Hart, Naleeya Roark and Kurstin Thompson, sophomores
What to expect: Burkman, Snyder and Grider were responsible for 35 percent of last season’s points scored, which means coach Ferris will lean on them, particularly early in the season. Harris and Maddox also gained valuable experience and should play larger roles for the Braves.
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Which gym is your favorite — or least favorite — to play in, and why?
"My favorite is probably Martinsville just because of the rivalry we have with them. It’s an intense atmosphere. My least favorite is Greenwood. Every time we play there it’s not been good."
Which team not on your schedule would you most want to play?
"Greensburg. They’re a solid team and I think it would be a good test. And I have a lot of friends who go there."
Which player that we might not know about is likely to have a breakout season?
"Ali Harris. She’s been a quiet player for us the past couple of years, but I think this year she’s going to have a breakout season."
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