Tonight, the DeKalb Lady Barons host the East Noble Lady Knights in a big rivalry game across the counties of DeKalb and Noble. (12-6, 1-3) DeKalb has already matched their win total from a season ago as they will finish with their first winning season since 2013-14. Coach Noah Stuckey said at this point of the season, he likes where the team is at and are playing well.
“We have had some hiccups that I wish we could get back, a possession here or there that might have given us an extra win or two,” said Stuckey. “Even with that, we have been pretty excited with the growth of the team. Before the season started, we had to replace 5 seniors who were a main part of the rotation for the past two seasons.”
Stuckey said this team has grown a lot from the Bellmont game and have become a better team coming out of that game.
“Luckily we had Ashley (Cox) to carry the load (for) that first part of the season, but that has changed significantly and has taken some pressure off of her.” said Stuckey.
Junior Ashley Cox is having a monster junior season averaging 20.3 points (only trails Norwell’s Kennedy Fuelling and her 22 pts per game), 9.1 boards, 3.3 steals, 3 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game….shes a point guard. But when you look beyond her, the team has shown a lot of growth since October and November.
Abbie Harris, only a freshman, is averaging 12 points per game since that 61-31 loss to Bellmont back on Dec. 2. Stuckey said Harris has been excellent all season long, and despite the ups and downs for a freshman, she has become a very reliable player alongside Cox.
“She handles the ball well without turning it over, which allows us to put Ashley in different positions offensively,” said Stuckey. “Sam Slavin has also done an excellent job. She brings a ton of energy when she comes in and rebounds very well.
“Baylee Doster has been gaining more and more confidence lately. She was just a shooter at the beginning of the year for us, but now she is starting to score in different ways.”
As for East Noble (11-6, 2-2), they have turned it around in a huge way. After winning just 9 games combined in the previous 2 seasons, Coach Britain Isaacs has led a young and exciting East Noble team to an 11-6 campaign and 2-2 in NE8 play.
Isaacs said Year 1 has been filled with a lot of learning moments and building over the course of the season. The two seniors have provided a staple of consistent leadership, while the underclassmen have brought in some talent and potential to this team.
“I knew it would be a rollercoaster together (for) our first year,” said Isaacs. “With me being a first-year coach, (and the) girls learning an entire new scheme for defense and offense, etc. Overall, this year has been a success for our program in my eyes. We’ve built solid building blocks and have had a lot of positivity leading in the right direction.”
When looking at the Knights season to this point, they have pulled off some pretty remarkable wins over Bishop Dwenger, Central Noble, Concordia (the OT game), Carroll, and Huntington North (which still shocks me to this day). At the start of the season, it was the freshmen led by Averi Amstutz, Rian David, and Elli Will combining for 27.4 points, 11.9 boards, 4.6 assists, and 5.1 steals per game.
But lately it’s been Payton Quake that has taken over recent games for East Noble. In her last 4 games, Quake is averaging 13.5 points, 7.3 boards, and 4 steals per game. That variety of youth and experience have panned out to East Noble’s most competitive team in 7 years.
“I think with the Freshman, they’ve always found ways to win,” said Isaacs. “They’ve trusted each other and bought into whatever it takes. The sophomores help a lot with the competitive edge in games and in practice, they want to compete at a high level and hate to lose.
“The seniors have given a lot of leadership, they are steady and always willing to put in extra work for themselves and their teammates.“
That combination has established a culture that sets up future success. Younger players are going to the seniors for advice and that relationship is improved the overall aspects of the team.
When considering the matchup in general, it can go two ways. One way is you have slightly contrasting styles that lead to a thrilling finish. Or you have a scenario where one team’s style becomes the one thing that forces the other to adapt. That’s the challenge for both teams.
East Noble plays a very aggressive style of basketball and will get up and down the floor. DeKalb, while they have moments of this pace, prefer to keep the game controlled and disciplined. The Barons want to be a team that dominates time of possession and work their offense around their guards to create chances. Both teams will get chances and they’ll take them, but how they get from points A to B are a bit different.
East Noble leads the series 12-11 in the last 20 years. But DeKalb has won the last 2 meetings.
What are the strengths with EN?
Obviously the mix of youth, pace, and experience makes East Noble formidable for anyone. To have 5 players average at least 7 points per game, it’s a weapon that you either have or you don’t. It’s not something that is created equally, and EN is fortunate to have that. East Noble is also quietly a dangerous shooting team shooting 45% from the floor and 33% from 3.
If DeKalb wants to make this game manageable in their favor, they cannot miss their assignments on any level of the floor. East Noble shares the ball pretty well at 10 assists and 9.5 steals.
What are the strengths with DeKalb?
The Barons obviously have the best player on the floor with Ashley Cox. But the other aspect is their defense, particularly with rebounds, steals, and forced turnovers. The Barons are averaging 29 boards, 12.3 steals, and 6.4 forced turnovers. Natalie Fordyce is one example of a player that lives on defense.
If DeKalb wants to win this game, it’s got to start with their defense that holds teams to 40.8 points per game. East Noble can defend as well, but at a different style.
X-Factors?
One things for certain both teams struggle with turnovers and free throws. DeKalb and EN combine to average over 32 turnovers a game and both teams shoot well below 70% from the free throw line. The other aspect that could be interesting is the physicality of this game.
Keys to the Game
When asked about DeKalb, Isaacs said his team will have to “work their butts off” and find ways to slow her down. They want this game to be decided by someone else beating them not Cox. Isaacs said Cox “gets to the rim at will,” and has been “very impressed with her game and skills this year!”
Stuckey said Payton Quake jumps the tape when looking at East Noble, but it’s obviously their depth and size that will challenge their ability to score in the paint and grabbing rebounds.
“They can be tough to guard with how well they can spread the floor,” said Stuckey. “The length of Will and Deming will also cause some problems and we will need to be physical with them to slow them down.”
Players to Watch
East Noble
Payton Quake Senior Forward
With how well Quake has played throughout the entire year in volleyball and hoops, it’s evident that she’s valuable to East Noble’s chances to make a run in preparation for the state tournament. Given how physical this game could be, this is the type of atmosphere Quake can thrive on.
“Payton Quake has been the one who I think has had a large impact,” said Stuckey. “She seems to be very efficient and consistent from game to game. Outside of the Huntington North game, her numbers aren’t jumping off the page, but she does a lot of the little things that help a team be successful.”
DeKalb
Abbie Harris Freshman Guard
While all the attention is on Cox with good reason, Harris is the one that rides a hot hand at a time that the weather is freezing cold. If the Barons want to be successful tonight, they have to be able to convert on opportunities that are given to them. Most of the attention will go to Cox because she’s a Top 3 player in the NE8, you have to. But if players like Harris, Doster, Slavin, Fordyce, and even a Sienna Abbott can find success, that’s where DeKalb is dangerous.
Final Thoughts
While girls basketball has not seen the same success as other sports like football, boys basketball, baseball, tennis, and track and field, East Noble-DeKalb is historically a Top 5 rivalry in Northeast Indiana. From the early days in the 60s and 70s, to its peak in the 80s and 90s, even to today, anyone that has grown up in DeKalb or Noble County understands how massive this rivalry has on high school sports. Before the Carroll and Homestead rivalry grew in popularity and animosity, East Noble-DeKalb had that potential.
Sadly, it doesn’t get the same love it once had, but it’s still appreciated across the two communities, and tonight’s game adds a new chapter to this strong rivalry. Isaacs jokingly understands how big this rivalry is because of his family’s East Noble roots.
“I hear all the time about the importance of this game!” said Isaacs. “DeKalb has turned it on here lately and battled with good teams! We both play different styles of basketball, and it will be awesome to watch how they mesh against each other. With myself having family that have gone to EN, they always talk about the rivalry between DeKalb and EN, so I am excited to see the energy in the gym and from both teams.”
Coach Stuckey understands how big the game is from a historical perspective, but for him it’s another game to get better and prepare for the tournament. Stuckey ideally wants to win out before sectionals, but understandably with the likes of Columbia City, Snider, and Huntington North on their remaining schedule, they know what lies ahead. Their focus tonight is just on East Noble.
Isaacs said his EN team needs to continue to get better on what they see on the floor and not try to speed the game up too fast. He wants his team to slow the game down to play to what suits them best and not get overwhelmed.
“Our sectional has a lot of great teams in it, so we have to take one game at a team from here on out and prepare,” said Isaacs. “Each team in our sectional, we have played once besides Snider.
“Everyone has seen each other once, so it makes it hard to try to win or plan for a team multiple times because you have to execute at an even higher level because the other team already knows what you are trying to do.”
Tip off set for 6pm for the varsity game. Game can be streamed down below.
https://youtube.com/@dekalbladybaronbasketball4691?si=GlJhJ64KxJGBK8-X
Around the NorthEast Corner 