Though the Coronavirus pandemic has had its effects on high school sports, the girls’ basketball teams were able to finish their seasons. And it was a very special season for Homestead.
The Spartans finished the season 26-2. It’s their eighth 20-win season in 10 years. They have gone undefeated in conference play two years in a row.
“I’m very proud of the fact that over the last nine or 10 years we’ve been very successful year-in and year-out,” head coach Rod Parker said. “I just think that’s contributed to the young kids in our program working hard beginning at a young age working through middle school and then up through high school, and kind of carrying on the tradition that the previous classes have set for them.”
Homestead also won the South Side Sectional. They beat the host Archers in the championship game. It was the Spartans’ seventh sectional title since Parker took over in 2001.
“You value any type of postseason accomplishment you can earn,” Coach Parker said. “So whenever you get a chance to win a sectional, you’ve got to be very proud of that accomplishment, and it’s just a tribute to the hard work the kids put in, not only during the season but all year long.”
However, this season was a bit unique. You may remember that Coach Parker was diagnosed with Cancer during the 2019-2020 season. He was unable to coach for part of the season. Assistant coach Kara Ankenbruck served as the interim head coach in his absence, and the Spartans continued their winning ways. They went 9-1 in that span; winning the SAC Holiday Tournament, and beating Lawrence North (who was #1 in the state at the time). Parker returned for the January 17th home game against Snider and coached the rest of the season.
“We knew that when he was out, he was doing what he could do to get back, and we were going to do what we could do to make ourselves, our teammates, and even him better,” senior guard Rylie Parker said. “Coach Ankenbruck’s a really great coach, and she’s done a lot for the program, and so there was really no difference. She filled in the void really easily and very well with him being gone. But it was amazing that he was able to come back for the final games and finish coaching me and Sydney [Graber] especially.”
Homestead picked up several marquee wins. Their conference slate included wins against Carroll (once at home, once at Regionals), and Luers (once at home, once at the holiday tournament). And in addition to beating Lawrence North, they also knocked off Northfield, Carmel, and Heritage Christian in the non-conference slate. They also won an inter-state matchup against Pickerington Central from Ohio.
“Several years ago…we really made an effort to start strengthening our schedule with teams outside the Fort Wayne area,” Coach Parker said. “We’d play seven or eight teams out of Indianapolis, we’d play a couple of out-of-state games. So it’s been something that we really pride ourselves on is playing a tough schedule and getting excited for those big games.”
Senior power forward Sydney Graber had a great season as well. She averaged 15.1 points per game. And in the win against Lawrence North, she reached the 1,000 point milestone for her career.
“I knew before the season that I was close to 1000 points, but I never really knew what game I was going to get it in,” Graber said. “And especially in a game like that…at that time [Lawrence North was] number one in the state. Obviously, they were state champions [in 2020], but it was really exciting to score in that game, and then also to just come out with a win, because obviously team wins are more important than individual stuff, but the fact that I could accomplish that, and pull out a win too meant a lot.”
More recently, Graber was named to the Indiana All-Star team. She was the only Fort Wayne girls basketball player named to the Senior All-Star team. The Indy Star released the rosters on March 12th.
“Ever since I was younger it’s always been a dream of mine to be a part of the Senior All-Star Team, especially because there are only 14 players in the state that get selected,” Graber said. “With all the talent in Indiana and Fort Wayne, being able to represent Fort Wayne as well, since I’m the only one from up north, it’s really exciting, and it’s just a big goal that I accomplished for myself.”
This year she will begin college at Central Michigan University. She received a full-ride scholarship and committed to the Chippewas in October of 2018. She signed her letter of intent this past November. She is considering majoring in speech pathology and plans to also get a business-related minor.
“I’m so excited, I’ve been working really hard lately just to be a little bit prepared when I get there, but I have such a great relationship already with the players and coaches,” Graber said.
Fellow senior Rylie Parker will also begin college this year. She will play locally at Purdue Fort Wayne. She announced her commitment in September 2018. Like Graber, Parker also signed her letter of intent this past November. They signed on the same day. She plans to major in biology.
“It was really the perfect fit for me, and I’m so blessed that I get to stay close to my family and all my friends and I’ll still [be able to attend] Homestead games, so I’m super excited to still follow my teammates that I’ve played with for years and see how they’re doing as well,” Parker said.
Rylie Parker averaged 13.0 points per game. She also averaged 2.3 steals per game and came up with 42 steals on the season. Her season-high steal total was four. She reached that total in three games. She has had the privilege of being coached by her dad, Rod Parker, at the high school level; an experience that she has greatly enjoyed.
“I wouldn’t have traded it for anything, he has an amazing basketball IQ, he’s an amazing coach and an amazing person,” Rylie said. “He’s just taught me so much on and off the basketball court, and I couldn’t be grateful enough for it.”
Even with both Rylie Parker and Sydney Graber graduating this year, Homestead stands to return three starters from this year’s team; sophomore Ayanna Patterson and juniors Grace Sullivan and Amber Austin. Patterson averaged 13.6 points per game and received all-state recognition. She and Austin were two of the team’s top rebounders this year. And Sullivan averaged just under five assists per game.
“That’s something we’ve been fortunate with over the last several years is while we’ve graduated some very talented kids,” Coach Parker said. “We’ve been able to have young…talented players get experience under the leadership of those upperclassmen.”
