Snider went 21-5 last season, their most wins since 2011-12 and their second straight season of 20 or more victories. After a back and forth start, Snider won 11 straight before losing one game, then won eight straight before the season ending loss. In that eight game span, they took home their second straight Sectional title and their first Regional title since 2010. They ended up losing by a single point to Fishers in the semi state round and want to get that point this season in hopes of reaching the state finals for the first time since 2001.
But the state title game is not the only thing that eluded them as they fell short of winning the SAC due to a loss to Northrop in a razor close game that was arguably the best game and clearly the best environment in the area last season. They are now looking for their first SAC title since 2015 when they went 7-0 and won the title outright over second place Wayne, almost half a life ago for the current Panther seniors.
Who isn’t back for the Panthers? Would make for a quicker story to tell heading into the 2023-2024 season.
The front of focus os Jordyn Poole, off a sensational Indiana Junior All-Star season. Poole lead the Panthers with 16.7 points per game, also averaging four assists, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. From the time they were freshmen, Poole and classmate Johnea Donahue have been one of the best one-two punches in the northern half of the state and that continued last season. Donahue posted an extraordinary 5.6 steals per contest to go with 11.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
The third head of the returning snake for Snider is Ciara Sims, who does all of the intangible things and averaged 9.5 points per game last season. Back too as a solid fourth returning option is Kyra Parker, who averaged 5.2 points last season. Another senior, Samantha Baughman, will be the primary interior returner for the Panthers.
Zyanne Phinezy (3.5 ppg) and Sarah Elswerky will both be back after seeing some varsity action last season as they add depth behind the trio lead guards.
Snider will add some help as well and part of it comes bolstering the interior play as 6-foot post Saniah Sanndlin has transferred over from Homestead. Gracie Smith and Mylee Hurse will add depth in the backcourt as well as they will get varsity minutes.
“As a group we must play together stay together and trust the process. If we do that we
will produce a successful season,” said Snider coach Reggie Tharp.
WHY #1?
Because Snider sniffed the state title game a year ago in Class 4A and brings back every player of significant consequence this season. They are all battle tested and they are all hungry to climb to the mountain top this season.
Good luck finding any team in Northeast Indiana, maybe in the state, that will work as hard and as scrappy as this team. No diss to anyone else, its just fact that Snider is tough as nails every inch of the way.
They hold the best player in the area, they have multiple Indiana All-Star players and their depth is only growing under a coach who is showing that his success on the AAU level translates to the high school level. Snider is the total package heading into the new season.
KEY GAME
January 5 vs. Northrop
Forgive us for a bit of a cut and paste, but this is the same game we picked for #3 Northrop and for good reason. While game four of the season against Columbia City is all over our radar, nothing is going to be quite like Snider hosting Northrop; expect a packed gym again this year.
They will be expected to be the two teams competing for a SAC title and that title could realistically be decided in this game. This is going to be a very feisty and very well executed game, just like it was last regular season.
And for Snider, its a revenge game. As good as last year’s game was all around for both teams and for almost every player who touched the court in it, the Panthers didn’t win at Northrop. And you can bet your last buck that Snider remembers that fact all too well.
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