Two years isn’t very long, but it feels like an eternity since Homestead was atop the SAC.
When you have sky-high expectations thrust upon you every season, even a slight drought can bring about some angst.
Let’s be clear, the Spartans have advanced to the regional and semistate rounds of the tournament over the last two years, but they took a bit of a back seat the last two years in the city, first to Northrop two years ago, then to Snider last season.
This year should see a return to “normalcy” out of the Spartans, who return all five starters from a 23-win squad.
If you do not factor in Emma Reust, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, the Spartans lost zero production to graduation from a team that reached the semistate round of the Class 4A tournament.
“The experience we have, along with talented underclassmen, should allow us to be competitive in the Fort Wayne area and throughout the state,” said Homestead coach Rod Parker.
The junior duo of Myah Epps and Gabby Helsom leads the way. Epps paced Homestead in points (17.5) and assists (5.2) and is one of the top players in the area regardless of position.
Conversely, Helsom is a force both inside and out. She can play on the perimeter, but is also physical and tough to handle duty in the post. She averaged 16 points and six rebounds a game as a sophomore.
And that duo is just part of an ultra-talented junior class that also includes guards Whitney Ankenbruck (11 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Carley Moellering (seven ppg, three apg) and Kendall McLaughlin.
This year’s team will have more of a senior presence with the trio of Liv Fry, Seline Oezcan and Delaney Seitz filling roles.
“Being that we return all five starters, experience should be our biggest strength this season,” said Parker. “Secondly, we are adding a lot of depth to our team this year, which will make us more versatile than in years past.”
The schedule is full of challenges, per usual. In addition to taking on the top teams in the SAC, Homestead will play in the Hall of Fame Tournament at the New Castle Fieldhouse, will play at Notre Dame Academy in Ohio in early December and visit the likes of Noblesville, Elkhart and Carmel.
WHY #1?
Homestead has experience in bunches, from a solid senior class to a cadre of juniors that have seen a lot of varsity playing time over their first two years. Coach Parker’s team has several players who can fill the bucket, led by Epps and complemented by fellow double-digit returning scorers Helsom and Ankenbruck.
Parker is also high on his freshman class that will provide added depth off the bench, something the Spartans did not have much of a year ago.
KEY GAME
January 30 at Northrop
How fitting that the game that may very well decide the SAC is also the regular-season finale for both teams.
When these two teams meet up on a Thursday evening in late January, they will have navigated the rigors of the regular season and be poised for the playoffs.
These two teams have been in some classics of late. A season ago, Homestead earned a 72-71 victory in double overtime. Two years ago, it was Northrop that earned the victory and captured the SAC championship.
Another round between the SAC powers looms, but we will once again have to wait several months to see it.
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