The stats don't lie

When I moved to the States I have to admit I was taken aback at how many statistics were out there in the sporting world, especially at high school and college level.

When I was at school, we either had a good game, a bad game or a so-so game. And you knew it too if the coach threw a lone shoe hurtling in your direction in the dressing room after said game. We remembered if we scored an amazing 40-yarder, or would remind those who were beneficiaries of our generosity after we "made" them a goal (what you call assists).

I think there can be an overkill on statistics, however, and it shows painfully so in some newspaper reports across the nation which can become a trudge to get through because of their over reliance on said facts.

However, there are times when they are useful. As they say, statistics don't lie. (Unless, of course, they are inaccurate.)

Last week came my way the stats for the Indiana High School season.
Six of the area's players are amongst the girls’ statistical leaders, compiled by DigitalSports, "the IHSAA’s exclusive athletic statistics reporting and publishing service."

What leaps out is how well New Albany junior Kaitlin Robinett and Providence senior Laura Jenkins fared. According to the statistics, Robinett was fifth highest in the state for goals per game (16 games, 30 goals, 1.9gpg), and sixth in the "points per game" list, which takes in goals and assists.

Laura Jenkins was joint 17th for goals per game (17 games, 23 goals, 1.4gpg), and joint 20th for points per game. She was also 15th for assists, averaging 12 per game.

Also listed is Providence's Casey Marlin for assists (nine assists per game) and points, while freshman Kameron Cole made a splash in her first season with New Albany and is listed with 17 games and 15 goals.

Alyssa Hendershot (Providence) and Taylor Briscoe (New Albany) make the goalkeepers' list, with goals against averages of 1.26 and 1.38 respectively.

So it begs the question: didn’t the area deserve to have more players on the All-District teams (mentioned above)?