Sophomore Kayln Pickens (5) displays superb defense that has keyed Fort Wayne Snider's 12-4 start and why it is the MaxPreps Indiana Team of the Week.
Photo courtesy of Gary Hale Photography
After three straight 20-win seasons,
Fort Wayne Snider (Ind.) girls basketball coach Kelley Meiklejohn took over last season a young team and struggled at 8-12.
Deja Wimby (4) is pretty much unstoppable at
more than 27 points per game.
Photo courtesy of Gary Hale Photography
Helped largely by the state's second-leading scorer
Deja Wimby and a talented sophomore class, the Panthers have started 2014-15 with a 12-4 record and are No. 26 in the state, according to the MaxPreps computer rankings.
For their vast and quick improvement, Fort Wayne Snider is the MaxPreps Indiana Team of the Week, presented by the Indiana Army National Guard.
"Our sophomores are stepping up into their roles," said Meiklejohn of the team's improvement. "We are playing team basketball and executing on the offensive and defensive end."
It helps to lean on Wimby, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, for offense. And defense. And everything in between.
She's averaging 27.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 6.7 steals per game. Wimby has signed a letter of intent to Western Michigan.
Asked what makes her star player so special, Meiklejohn said "Her versatility. She can do so many things on offense but also helps create easy shots for her teammates."
Kayla Covington, Fort Wayne Snider
Photo courtesy of Gary Hale Photography
(10.9 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game) and
Daysianae Hinton (6.8 ppg) have cashed in on the offensive end as well.
"These girls play hard and are very determined," Meiklejohn said. "They study the game plan and work together to compete at a high level."
With eight sophomores on a 15-playerroster, the future looks bright for the Panthers.
"There is a lot of talent in that group," Meiklejohn said. "They are special and they keep getting better every day with their work ethic. Some of them have been playing together for years. They have great relationships and they trust each other, which helps on the court with how well they play with each other."
The main goal of the Panthers is to stay focused.
"There is a lot of potential with this group," Meiklejohn said. "We just have to stay focused and take it one game at a time."
Kelley Meiklejohn leads the Panthers during a team huddle.
Photo courtesy of Gary Hale Photography
