The maturation of Ayanna Patterson reached new heights over the weekend.
Yes, Homestead did fall to Carroll in the championship game of the Class 4A Marion Regional, but it wasn’t due to lack of effort from Patterson.
Conventional wisdom has thrust upon the junior star that Patterson has been capable of dominating opponents since she stepped onto the high school playing floor as a freshman.
That wasn’t reality.
Patterson needed to walk before she could run, and run before she could sprint. While tall, the physicality of the varsity game took a toll in her first year. Finishing around the bucket became a priority in off-season training. Free throws? Well, still improving.
But what Bounce witnessed on Saturday night at Bill Green Athletic Arena was what we knew would come eventually – the complete domination of a game.
Patterson dropped 33 points against Carroll with the regional title on the line. She finished around the bucket, she broke down defenders off the dribble, she even was able to take the ball up the court and to the hoop.
The Chargers did all they could to make life difficult for Patterson. The collapsing 3-2 zone that Carroll employed work to some effect, but the junior was still able to finish at the rim. Her 14 rebounds were just as impressive as the point total, as she was able to reach far and above everyone else to pull down boards.
Saturday’s effort was what Bounce has been waiting to see – a performance in which no matter what a team did, Patterson was going to get hers.
While the game (and the season) ended in disappointing fashion for the Spartans, what Patterson showed bodes well for the program going forward.
All indications to Bounce are that Patterson will be at the zenith of her talent as a senior. She will be one of the most dominating players in the entire state. And she should have plenty of help.
Homestead struggled at times helping out Patterson on the offensive end. In the regional semifinal against Noblesville, sophomore Ali Stephens was big with six threes and 20 points. Without Stephens, the Spartans do not advance to the regional final.
But the consistency outside of Patterson was lacking for the majority of this season. But Stephens, fellow sophomore Molly Stock and junior Maggie Keinsley will all be seasoned and more consistent in 2021-22.
What will be difficult to replace are the leadership and point guard qualities of Grace Sullivan. While not a top scorer, Sullivan’s struggles with foul trouble against Carroll on Saturday were evident when the Spartans looked flummoxed without their starting one guard on the floor.
It is weird when a 20-win campaign is considered a “down” year for a program, but that’s just how good Homestead has been in recent years.
Considering what Patterson has developed into, coupled with what she has around her, Bounce has full faith in Homestead potentially regaining its dominance of the SAC and northeast Indiana next season.
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
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