The Indianola Indians girls basketball team had only one senior on the squad this season in Bailey Blake, and replacing what she brought to the team will be tough to replicate. Head coach Jeff Janssen tells KNIA Sports what Bailey brought to the team was more than just stats or anything quantifiable.

“Bailey bought in day one, from the get go when I first got this job two years ago. She has given everything she’s had to our program. I’m so proud of her to be healthy this year, to start every game, and I know things didn’t always go her way and she wasn’t the one who got all the recognition or accolades, but she did everything we asked of her. Not the most vocal leader, but her actions, determination, and her spirit is what carried us through a lot this year. It’s a big reason why for the second straight year she was voted as teammate of the year, and i’m so proud of her and I can’t say enough great things about her.”

Janssen also said with Blake’s graduation, the Indians can no longer be called a young team next year as the majority of their squad will be seniors and juniors.