
Kristen Spoylar leads the state in scoring at 32.9 points per game and the Tigers from Lebanon, who opened the season 21-2. They are the MaxPreps Indiana Team of the Week, presented by the Indiana National Guard.
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Week 20 Winner: Lebanon Girls Basketball
With a cumulative 3.90 GPA, the
Lebanon (Ind.) girls basketball team is collectively quite bright. And get this: the Tigers are also adept at chemistry.
At
least among themselves, they are, and combined with a lot of talented
players it makes it easy to understand why they are 21-2 and the
MaxPreps Indiana Team of the Week, presented by the Indiana National
Guard.

Mallory Cast, Lebanon
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With a mix of three seniors, four juniors, four sophomores and a
freshman, Lebanon has put it all together to win 10 straight and earn a
No. 26 state ranking. Coach Beth DeVinney loves the team's balance, work
ethic and ability to get along.
It comes pretty naturally. Winning, of course, helps.
"We
have outstanding team chemistry," DeVinney said. "The kids are friends
on and off the floor and really enjoy being around each other. Everyone
knows their role and fulfills it to the best of their ability. Winning
is the most important thing to this team."
Lebanon has done plenty of it over the years.
Over
the previous four seasons, the team has combined for 78 wins against
just 19 losses. But this is the most the team has won in the past 11
years, tying it with the 2012-13 team that went 21-4. How has this team
got it done?
"Our varsity team GPA is 3.9, so we have
intelligent kids," DeVinney said. "We transition well and attack the
basket. All of our players are capable of scoring 10-12 points on a
given night. We make teams plays 32 minutes all-out."
Though balanced, they are led by the state's leading scorer, junior
Kristen Spolyar, who averages 32.8 points per game, along with 9.4 rebounds, 6.0 steals and 4.3 assists.
The
5-foot-10 shooting guard also plays volleyball. She's coming off a
46-point performance, a season high, on Friday, a 95-26 win over
Southmont.
Spoylar has also had a game of 45 in an 85-64 win
over Crawfordsville, and scored at least 30 in 10 games, including five
in a row.

Brooke Montgomery, Lebanon
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She's made 32 3-pointers, shoots 70 percent from foul line and 63
percent on 2-point field goal tries. Her other season highs are 16
rebounds, seven assists and 11 steals.
"Kristen has the unique
mix of strength, great foot speed, great hands and can get to the basket
in a variety of ways," DeVinney said. "She makes everyone around her
better and is very unselfish in the process, averaging six assists per
game."
Other top players are sophomore
Brooke Montgomery (10.9 ppg), senior
Mallory Cast (9.1 ppg) and junior
Peyton Terrill (8.3 ppg).
"I
have been most pleased with our progression as a team," DeVinney said.
"No. 1, the unselfishness of the kids on the team to do whatever it
takes, to allow us to win. And No. 2, the daily improvement and hard
work of each and every kid on our team."
Since a 77-60 loss to
Noblesville, the Tigers have won 19 of 20, with their lone defeat being
88-61 to Homestead on Jan. 3. Since then, they've won 10 straight by
margins of 12, 44, 31, 32, 64, 51, 29, 23, 23 and 69.
So, what are the Tigers capable of?
"Really
there are no limits on this team," DeVinney said. "I believe we have
the capability to make a run at the state finals, but as in every
tournament you have to be playing well at the right time, get a good
draw, treat each opponent with respect and know that in order to advance
you must play at a high level each and every day.
"And, of course, a little luck doesn't hurt."

Kassidi Cadle, Lebanon
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Peyton Terrill, Lebanon
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