11/18/2009 11:59:00 PM NORTH MONTGOMERY GIRLS BASKETBALL: North won't become unnerved
The Paper file photo by Lori Poteet
North Montgomery junior center Nicole Kingma is averaging eight points per game.
What: Girls Sugar Creek Classic
Who: Western Boone vs. North Montgomery
Place: North Montgomery HS
When: Approx 8 p.m. Friday
By Bob Cox bcox@thepaper24-7.com
LINDEN - With the Sugar Creek Classic in their own gymnasium, the local tournament with large crowds and good competition could be enough to unnerve a young player.
But North Montgomery's youth-filled group doesn't see it as a problem.
North Montgomery (1-0) will field the second-youngest starting line-up of the four teams with two freshmen (guards Kelsi Byrd and Kathryn Webster), two juniors (Sami Jo Byrd and Nicole Kingma and one senior (Whitney Hutson). BR> They'll take on Sagamore Athletic Conference rival Western Boone (2-1) in Friday night's second semifinal game - a team they haven't beaten in three years.
Kelsi Byrd and Webster both scored in double figures in the team's win last week against Attica and they'll play in their first varsity tournament tonight.
But Kingma said playing at home will help her two teammates feel more comfortable as well as the whole team and her team will be ready.
"We are really pumped and ready for this tourney," she said. "And although we have freshmen on the team, we will feel right at home since we are playing at North."
First-year coach Ken Hampton is aware that the atmosphere surrounding the tournament could have an affect on his inexperienced team, who also has sophomore Katie McIntyre playing a key role off the bench.
"Our team will be excited to be playing in the tourney in our own gym," he said. "Our young players will get to see a full gym so it will be a little different than what they are used to."
The Chargers' opponent is the biggest worry for Hampton. The Stars will feature one of the best players in West-Central Indiana in senior Brandi Woody, who's already signed to play at NCAA Division I Ball State.
"Brandy Woody is a strong player and she sets up her teammates very well," Hampton said. "When you watch the film you also see she is a great defensive player too."
Hampton said his team will face another test in the game. It's something they have not seen yet - a team that tries to score quickly after turnovers.
"Western Boone will press us on defense and they like an up-tempo game," he said. "We will have to take care of the ball and limit their easy points from turnovers."
Hampton said the Chargers have been concentrating on correcting errors made in last week's Attica game. And he came out of the game very pleased with his team's effort.
"Sami Byrd, Nicole Kingma and Whitney Hutson all did a lot of good things in the game that don't show up in the scorebook," Hampton said. "Most of our mistakes are correctable and the girls have worked hard on those things this week. To win this tourney we will have to play extremely well both nights. We already know that Saturday will be a county game, so that adds to the excitement for our team."
Kingma said the team has grown more comfortable with Hampton, which will also help them this weekend.
"We have learned a lot from coach Hampton in a short time," Kingma said. "With his coaching experience he is using all the talent on the team. A tourney championship would be awesome because that would mean all of our hard work is paying off."
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