Hamilton Southeastern seniors Antonette Green (left) and Kennedy Holman (right) and are two of the seniors returning to the Royals’ lineup this season. (Richie Hall)
By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – After writing a historic chapter in Hamilton Southeastern girls basketball last season, the Royals are hoping for more stories to tell this season.
Southeastern scrimmaged North Central at the Panthers’ Paul Loggan Fieldhouse Thursday as it prepares to begin the regular season next week. The Royals graduated eight seniors, including Indiana Miss Basketball Maya Makalusky, from last year’s team, which went 27-1 and made it to the semi-state final, Southeastern’s best post-season showing since it won the Class 4A state championship in 2019.
But there are a handful of good players returning to write HSE’s next chapter. Keeping with that theme, Royals coach Brian Satterfield said after the scrimmage is “everybody being on the same page and understanding where they need to be and what we’re trying to do.”
Southeastern has three strong seniors to provide leadership. Kennedy Holman, a 5-8 guard, was the second-leading scorer last year behind Makalusky, averaging 12.2 points per game. Holman, a Florida commit who is in the conversation for this year’s Miss Basketball, was by far the leader in assists with 5.8 and also led the team in steals (2.0) and blocks (0.8) and was second in rebounds with 5.3 per contest.
Kayla Stidham, a 6-foot forward and Bowling Green State commit, was a double-digit scorer last year, pouring in 10.5 points and pulling 4.5 rebounds. Antonette Green, a 5-4 guard and Earlham commit, dished out 1.6 assists per game. Satterfield called those three players a “good core to work around.”
“That’s where it starts,” said Satterfield.
Two other players, senior Ava Kashani and junior Abby Orme, also played varsity minutes last season.
New players on varsity this season include seniors Helena Kiely and center Boston DeBolt, both of whom stand 5-10. Sophomores Piper Brinley (a 5-9 forward) and Haylee Mezera (a 5-8 guard) are also slated for varsity.
“I think they’ve got some things that they bring to the table,” said Satterfield. For example, the coach said Brinley is “the one who’s done a lot of those intangibles that we love at the defensive end, getting offensive rebounds, doing some of those little things that coaches love and not everybody else notices.”
Junior Anna Hellmann and sophomores Cami Catlin and 6-fotoer Ellie Smalligan expected to swing between varsity and junior varsity.
The Royals begin their season on Thursday, Nov. 6 by visiting Lawrence North, then play Nov. 8 at Ben Davis. Southeastern’s first home game is Saturday, Nov. 15 against Lawernce Central.
