By: Stephanie Walstrom <[email protected]>

Coming off of what it calls a disappointing post-season finish last year, the women’s basketball team heads into its last two games of the season with a 14-2 record and a Number-4 ranking as of Jan. 22.

“So far this season we have had a lot of ups and downs, but now the team is on the upside of things and hopefully will stay there,” Danielle Havel, returning varsity basketball player and senior, said.

“I think going into Sectional we will have the advantage playing on our home court and considering we haven’t lost at home yet, we hope to keep up that record,” she said. With two games left to play in regular season, the team has a perfect home court record.

According to Assistant Coach Joe Stuelpe, the team is continuing to work on goals it established earlier in the season, namely improving team chemistry. “They’re working on it,” he said. “They’ve made some progress but there’s still some things we can do better on and off the floor. The goal is to do those things better in the tournament and we’re still working on that. The goal is to have thirteen girls on the same page, playing for and with each other.”

“The things we have been working on in practices are carrying over to the games, and it shows we are ready to start the tournament strong,” Havel said.

The team faces Ben Davis tonight at 7:30 p.m., and Center Grove at home on Tuesday. They will play in the first round of Sectional on Feb. 5 at home. Their opponent has yet to be determined. Currently Carmel is ranked higher than any team they will face in its Sectional. Only two teams they will face in Regional are ranked higher: North Central and Ben Davis.

“As a team we have really done well this season. When times get rough during a game we know how to pick one another up so we can strive to do well. That’s what is called team chemistry and that is what will help as in Sectional,” Ashlee Spearman, varsity basketball player and senior, said. “If we continue to play together as a team we will do big things. Our team goal this season is to get out of Sectional and continue going ‘just one more.’”