Role players continue to rise for Bedford North Lawrence girls basketball

BEDFORD — Coming into the 2021-22 girls basketball season, everybody with even an inkling of knowledge about Bedford North Lawrence knew that the Lady Stars consisted of Karsyn Norman, Chloe Spreen and a lot of uncertainty.

BNL went 22-3 last year, but lost three starters to college teams and a couple of other key reserves, so it remained to be seen who would step up and pick up the slack and surround the two superstars with invaluable support.

Here we are through nine games, not far from the holiday break and the halfway point of the season, that uncertainty is rapidly turning to consistency and certainty with the Lady Stars 8-1 and ranked No.5 in the ICGSA Class 4A poll heading into games Thursday at Seymour and Saturday at home against Brownsburg.

Pieces pulling together

Spreen, a sophomore guard/forward, and Norman, a junior guard, are certainly doing their part. Spreen leads the Hoosier Hills Conference in scoring at 17.1 ppg with a high game of 30 while adding a team-best 5.4 rpg, 1.7 spg and 41 percent (15 of 37) from 3-point range. Norman is fifth in the HHC in scoring at 14.7, third in assists at 3.1, fifth in steals at 3.2, adds 3.8 rpg, and also has 15 3-pointers.

Those kind of numbers were anticipated from those two returning starters. But they're receiving excellent assistance from the three new starters and two key subs who moved up this season. It has not turned into the scoring abyss that some feared.

Last year's top seven players combined to average 60.0 ppg. Thus far, this year's top seven are scoring 55.0. Junior forward Mallory Pride is tossing in 6.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg and is shooting 44 percent (4 of 9) from the arc.

Junior forward Carlee Kern contributes 5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2 spg, has hit 47 percent (8 of 17) of her 3-point attempts, and eagerly takes up the task of guarding the opposition's top interior player. Sophomore guard Madisyn Bailey is chipping in 6 ppg, leads the HHC in assists at 3.9, adds 3 steals and 3.9 rpg.

Senior Ella Turner (2.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg), a 6-1 center/forward, and 5-11 junior forward Emma Crane (2.7 ppg) have also found their roles as they come in off the bench when rebounding issues arise and solid screens and block-outs are needed.

Star guards appreciate help

The contributions from the role players have not gone unnoticed by Norman and Spreen. BNL girls basketball has always lived by and thrived with the team concept, and this team is no different. In fact, it is extremely vital with teams hell-bent on double-teaming Spreen.

The two stars certainly do not view themselves above anyone on the team, but there is some hierarchy because of experience, statistics and reputation. These two know, however, that it's all-for-one and, well, you know. They appreciate all contributions.

"Carlee, Madisyn and Mallory have done a great job stepping into the starting lineup, and they've been playing great," Spreen said. "They knocking down big shots, getting rebounds and played great defense. Ella and Emma come in ready to play every time, too.

"Me and Karsyn are absolutely happy to see it all happening because most of the defensive focus has been on us, and if those girls keep shooting it like they have been and playing that way they're going to have to make a decision on defense.

"Hopefully, I'll get to start seeing fewer double- and triple-teams and be able to work a little more on getting to the basket. But if they keep doing it we have other weapons. I know if they double team me I can kick it to them and they'll knock down shots. It's huge."

Coaches who scout the Lady Stars on film (or live) may suffer some sleepless nights decided who to guard and who to leave open.

"All of those players have picked it up a lot, not only in scoring, but also with rebounding," Norman noted. "Everybody on our team has always kind of played real good defense, but points and rebounds were the areas we weren't real sure about this season.

"But they're all contributing. Carlee has really been shooting it well, along with Mallory and Madisyn. It may force them to back off us a little, but even if they do want to keep doubling Chloe then we know other girls will step up and make shots."

Kern, Bailey pester Panthers

The role-call kids are taking a lot of pride in resolving those roles and contributing mightily to BNL's winning ways. They realize there is a ton of expectation and pressure on Spreen and Norman, and they are pleased to help alleviate some of it.

For example, in last week's titanic tilt at Jennings County, Norman suffered a bit of a slow start (before exploding in the fourth quarter) while Spreen was on throughout. Pride came through with 8 points and 7 rebounds, but Bailey turned the tide while only scoring two points.

She delivered nine rebounds, six assists, five steals, a blocked shot and shut down senior guard Kali Thompson, allowing JC's third-best scorer zero points while harassing her into four turnovers.

Bailey attempted only two shots. The Lady Stars need points from her, but her focus is on victories.

"I don't care how much I score," she declared. "I just want to do whatever I can to help my my team win. I tried to guard her (Thompson) as closely as I could. They wanted to pressure her when she had the ball, not let her get open 3-point looks, and try to deny her the ball when she gave it up.

"It was a big win. They were undefeated, playing at home, and really wanted to beat us (the Panthers have lost 22 in a row to BNL), so we feel pretty good about that one."

Kern also contributed largely despite scoring just a pair of points. She stands 5-8, but, per usual, drew the assignment on the best big girl, JC's 6-0 sophomore Juliann Woodard, who hit the Lady Stars with 38 points in two meetings last season.

Kern limited her to eight points and helped pressure her into four miscues. Kern also limited Jeffersonville's 6-1 Cadence Singleton to two points and Mitchell's 6-1 Maddie Robertson to five.

"I like a good challenge," said Kern. "It's always fun to try to slow down a big girl inside. I feel like I'm doing my part to help the team win if I do that. I don't go out and score 20 points a game, but I feel like I'm helping if I play good defense and rebound.

"My defense on big girls, though, is really a team thing. I'm fronting them to try to take away the entry pass, and then I have to rely on my teammates on the backside. It was a little nerve-wracking knowing how good Woodard is, but my teammates did a great job of helping on the weakside. We know what we're doing in that defense."

Pride, Kern collar Bulldogs

Fast forward a game to Saturday's HHC contest at New Albany. This time Spreen struggled early to get shots to fall (before exploding in the fourth quarter) and Bailey seemed to have trouble getting into the game, partly because of foul trouble.

Norman was on fire at the outset, however, and Pride came through with nine points, 12 rebounds, two 3-pointers, two assists and two blocked shots, while Kern added 11 points and hit three 3-pointers, and Turner grabbed four boards to help turn the tide in the rebounding war.

"I honestly like rebounding better than scoring," the 5-8 Pride said. "I think it's my main role on this team and what I can do most, along with defense, to help us win. Whatever I can do to help is what I want to do out there."

Except for one occasion, in the 41-40 loss to Fremd, somebody has always stepped up when needed to make critical plays and baskets to help the Lady Stars win. Nobody cares who makes it, star player, role player or bench player.

"That's what we're all about, all together as a team," said BNL head coach Jeff Allen. "That's BNL Lady Stars basketball."

Contact Times-Mail Sports Writer Jeff Bartlett at jeffb@tmnews.com, or on Twitter @jeffbtmnews.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Role players getting comfortable for Bedford NL girls basketball team