The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1188486
The Press-Dispatch Winter Sports Preview Wednesday, November 27, 2019 D- 5 Front row (l to r): Kailee Mann, Jenna Horrall, Jayln Nelson and Lauren Vaughn. Back row: Hailey Parker, Kya Leighty, Kenzie Powell, Mallory Hunt and Mallory Hickey. Lady Chargers look for turnaround after taking lumps sports medicine | orthopaedics Andrew Houchins, PA-C Orthopaedic Surgery Physician Assistant Specialized in acute sports medicine injuries 812-354-9046 9th and Sycamore, Petersburg • fishhutpizza.com OPEN: Mon.-Sat., 11am-9pm Sun. 11am-7pm DO THE COOKING! Let us & Before or aer the game Before or aer practice For a list of participating schools and to learn more, visit germanamerican.com *Check card requires a German American checking account and approval of check card application. 6+2:<2856&+22/63,5,7 and earn cash for your school with the German American Bank 4?BHHE4ICJCL$BA?D$=J@ * Each purchase you make will automatically earn your school $0.02, donated by German American Bank! By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.com The Pike Central girls' basket- ball team has experienced some growing pains to start the 2019 -20 season. However, the Lady Chargers have length, athleticism and a good mix of shooters and post players, but they have some work to do if they hope to compete with the ar- ea's best. "We are excited to get the new season underway," Pike Central head coach Kyle McCutchan said. "We had our struggles last year and I have to do a better job at get- ting the kids prepared and to be playing at our best come section- al time. Our defense will have to improve for us to be a competitive team, as well as handling pressure. Those are two main areas for im- provement. We had a good summer and hoping to continue to improve throughout the season." Pike Central has 16 total athletes between its varsity and junior var- sity squads, after graduating sev- en from last season's team that finished 6 -16 overall and 1-6 in the Pocket Athletic Conference. "They were a great group of kids, including Hailey Marchino [now playing at Oakland City], who made honorable mention All- PAC last year," McCutchan said. "So we have to replace some good players and we lost some shooting, but we return our top three-point shooter in Lauren Vaughn." The Lady Chargers are led by Vaughn (Sr., 5 -foot-8 -inch, guard) and Jayln Nelson (Sr., 5 -8, guard). Both were All-PAC honorable men- tion selections last season after av- eraging 10 and nine points, respec- tively. Pike Central has eight varsity players returning, with six of those players having significant experi- ence from last year. Jenna Horrall (Sr., 5 -9, forward) and Mallory Hickey ( Jr., 5 -7, for- ward) are both gifted athletes and solid defenders who have shown they can score when left unguard- ed or given an open lane. Each av- eraged five points per game last We had a good summer and hoping to continue to improve throughout the season." – Head Coach Kyle McCutchan " See LADIES on page 7 Front row (l to r): Delaney Welch, Kahle Young and Hailey Parker. Back row: Chloe Wil- liams, Tiffany Arteaga, Kenna Young and Liberty Taylor. G irls' V arsity Basketball Girls' JV Basketball