MaxPreps Indiana Team of the Week: 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.

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.

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."