Providence girls basketball gets early season start in Indiana

Providence Girls Basketball gets an early start

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Providence Girls Basketball gets an early start

A saying goes, "In 49 states, it's basketball, but in Indiana, it's something else."

That idea was on display Monday at 5:30 a.m. when the girls basketball team from Our Lady of Providence took the floor, becoming one of the first teams in the Hoosier State to begin practice.

For sophomore guard Addison Smith, days like today set a tone for a season with championship aspirations.

"We really have a goal to win a sectional and cut down the net on our home court," Smith said. "We just want to work for it."

Head Coach Brad Burden hopes beyond basketball, having his team on the floor before the sun comes up imparts as many lessons about life as it does basketball.

"I told the girls when we started at 5:30 that every other team in the state is sleeping at 5:30," Coach Burden said. "They are dreaming while sleeping, and it is great to have dreams, but it is even more important to realize those goals and go work for them."

Last season, the Pioneers came up one win short of a Sectional Title. Now, with an early start, Smith hopes this will bring the team closer both to their goal and with each other.

"This team and basketball in general here at Providence is just a culture and a family," Smith said. "We all come from different sports, so we have different views on sports, but when we come here, it is more like a family, and we all just play together and really have fun."

The Pioneers open their season on Nov. 14 against Jeffersonville.

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. —