Girls basketball: Finch sister act taking shape in Wheeler

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Wheeler's Paige (left) and Nickole Finch jump for a rebound during their game held at Whiting High School on Friday January 6, 2012. | Charles Mitchell~For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: February 28, 2012 8:20AM

Wheeler basketball standouts Nickole and Paige Finch started playing the game together by the time they finished pre-school.

“My mom (Kathleen Ducat) always wanted me to play up with Paige, so that’s something I always did,’’ said Nickole, a sophomore. “She always told me to play with the older kids, because it would help make me better.’’

Paige, a 5-foot-11 senior, is one of the few back-to-the-basket post players in Northwest Indiana. She’s shooting an eye-opening 61.5 percent from the floor and averages 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Nickole, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, is one of the most versatile players you’ll find anywhere. She averages 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals. She’s made 34 3-point baskets, but is also adept at driving the ball inside.

“I think Nickole generates a mis-match for us on a pretty regular basis,’’ first-year Bearcats coach Dustin Nelson said. “They have to account for her ability to shoot from the outside. If a team puts a guard on her, she can shoot over them or post ‘em up. If they decide to defend her with a post, she can drive past them.’’

As if finding a way to defend Nickole doesn’t cause a coach enough headaches, finding a way to contain Paige, causes migraines.

“Paige brings physicality and is a very good rebounder,’’ Nelson said.

“There aren’t many players who are going to post you up and make multiple moves on you, but she’s one of them. I think that makes it difficult for opponents to defend, because you’re always trying to account for what she’s doing.’’

Nelson and his assistant coaches have noticed on film that some teams are trying to double and triple Paige, which opens up the perimeter. I always tell my players: ‘I don’t care where the points come from, as long as they come.’ The bottom line is, all I care is, we score more points than our opponents.’’

The Bearcats (14-4) have managed to do that with regularity.

After winning their season-opener against Hebron, Wheeler suffered tough losses to 3A Griffith and 2A North Judson, before playing at Kankakee Valley on Nov. 22.

Wheeler was leading by double digits midway through the second quarter when Paige Finch went down with a severe ankle sprain.

The Bearcats lost the game and Paige for the next four contests.

“I sprained my ankle in four different places, including the inside of my heel and ball of my foot,’’ Paige said.

“I love the game so much. It was killing me not to play. I’d watch people practice and play and felt frustrated.’’

While Paige returned for the North Newton game, Dec. 21, it’s what the team did over the month she couldn’t play that mattered most.

“Initially, it’s how you handle it that makes or breaks you,’’ said Nelson, who told his players to elevate their games.

It was the team’s resiliency during Paige’s injury that somehow put the whole team on the same page.

The Bearcats’ response to Paige’s injury — along with their performance in winning Hanover Central’s Wildcat Winter Classic — which featured three state-ranked teams and seven of eight teams with winning records — that are the defining moments in Wheeler’s season.

“I wouldn’t want any of my players to ever get hurt, but it might have been a blessing in disguise for us,’’ Nelson said. “It’s made us more balanced, and a tougher team in a sense, because now we’re a little more difficult to defend. You can’t double and triple up on anybody.

If you do, you’re going to pay.’’

Wheeler has a number of players who can score. Seven of the team’s top eight players have scored 10 points or more, at least twice.

With 5-foot-8 guard Tijana Raketic, who shoots 46 percent, averaging 11.3 points and 3.3 assists, Wheeler has three scorers defenses must contend with.

“I think it definitely made us a better team,’’ Nickole said. “The way everybody is playing right now, it kind of makes the job for Paige and I easier. Mac (McKenzie Smith) is a good defensive player. Christiana Gandy is always up in your face. She doesn’t let you have a second to yourself, and I like that about her. She’s on you like crazy and just doesn’t stop, and Tijana is like that, too. Our entire team just does a great job of going with the game plan. Sarah (Becker) and Lauren (Johnson) do a great job defending in the post.’’

Nickole Finch, who is ambidextrous, has the ability to score in a variety of ways, but she doesn’t care about statistics.

“Stats are just a number,’’ she said. “I like to focus on the things I don’t do, so I can try and make them a strength and get better. I want to be able to do enough things, so I have no flaws. I know everyone has flaws, but I want mine to be minimal. That’s my goal.’’

Nickole, who wants to become a pharmacist, strives to make improvements in all area’s of her life.

“I’ve really tried to make myself better in every possible way,’’ she said. “I’m always striving to improve my game, my grades and my relationship with my teammates. Colleges are looking for well-rounded people. I’m trying to make myself a good candidate for college athletics.’’

Paige, who is very emotional, aggressive, and plays with a lot of heart, plans to study nursing and play for IU-Northwest next year.

“I love a challenge,’’ she said. “A challenge is a chance for me to step up. It gives me a chance to show what I can do to help my team and my teammates. I love going up against good competition, increasing my play and making my weaknesses, my strengths.’’