Prepzone Hardcourt Preview 2017

AXTELLBOYS
CHAMBERS-WHEELER CENTRAL-EWINGGIRLS
The 2016-17 campaign was a
difficult one for the Axtell boy’s
basketball squad, as the group
went 3-20 under head coach Chris
Callan.
However, the Wildcats were at a
disadvantage from the start, as no
player had starting experience at
the start of last season.
The opposite is true for Axtell
in 2017-18, as a plethora of
returning experience and talent
have raised expectations, and
created optimism as the season
approaches.
“Last year we started the year
with zero starters returning and
three letterwinners. This year
we we have 11 letterwinners
and eight different players who
started at one point in the season
last year,” Callan said. “That
experience will provide a lot for
us to draw upon this season, as we
return 99 percent of our scoring
and rebounding from last year.”
Leading the charge for Axtell will
be senior guard Ryan Hubbard,
who averaged 9.7 points and 7.3
rebounds a contest last year.
Also looking to contribute will
be senior guard Jake Marsh,
who posted 6.8 points a contest
his junior year, and forward
Creighton Kring.
Junior Lane Bertrand, and
sophomores Jake Wehrer, Zach
Hinrichs, and Tyler Danburg will
be key players for the Wildcats, as
well.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Wildcats
Class: D-2
2016-17 Record: 3-20
Playoff Appearances: 11
Head Coach: Chris Callan
Career Record: 25-25
Fresh off a 13-9 campaign, the
Chambers-Wheeler Central
girl’s basketball squad will
have to mature quickly if they
plan on competing in Class D-2
this season.
“We are very young this year,
so it will be important for us to
work together as a team early in
the season,” head coach Laurel
O’Malley said.
The Renegades only return
five letterwinners and a pair of
seniors this season.
CWC will be led by sophomore
guard Taylor Peter, who
averaged 9.8 points and 9.5
rebounds a contest as freshman.
Also seeing significant run will
be the duo of seniors Jamie
Koenig and Neleigh Gehl, as
well as junior Kyra Farewell.
“We also need to rely on
defense and rebounding and
work very hard to keep our
turnovers down,” O’Malley
added. “Our upperclassmen will
need to be good leaders to help
our younger players as they
develop experience. It will be
exciting to see this team grow
and improve throughout the
year.”
The season will tip off for CWC
on Nov. 28 against Creighton.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Renegades
Class: D-2
2016-17 Record: 13-9
Head Coach: Laurel O’Malley
Career Record: 118-53
AXTELLGIRLS
SUMNER-EDDYVILLE-MILLERGIRLS
Coming off a 19-5 campaign
which ended in the second round
of the state tournament, the
Axtell girl’s basketball squad
will have a new leader on the
sidelines.
Alyssa Willicott will take the
reigns as the head coach for the
Wildcats in 2017-18, and will
be looking to bring her team
together from the first day of
practice.
“This year we are going to focus
on teamwork. To win basketball
games you need five players
on the court, as well as all the
players you have on the bench
to mesh well together,” Willicott
said. “Basketball isn’t won by
just one or two players. It takes
the entire team to be successful.”
Willicott will have plenty of
experience returning, as 11
letterwinners will be back on the
court this season.
Senior Paige Kirby will lead
the charge for Axtell after an
impressive junior campaign,
and Camille Fishell and Caitlin
Callan will also be impact
players.
“If we can accomplish team unity
plus hard work and dedication,
our team will be successful once
again. I have a good group of
girls to work with and I have set
my expectations high for them,
but nothing they can’t achieve”
Willicott added. “I am excited for
this new year and to see where
the season takes us.”
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Lady Cats
Class: D-2
2016-17 Record: 19-5
Playoff Appearances: 8
Head Coach: Alyssa Willicott
The Sumner-Eddyville-Miller
girl’s basketball squad had a
difficult season in 2016-17
under first year head coach
Kathy Petersen-Cline.
The Mustangs went 3-16 and
1-9 in district play, but the group
will look to get back on the
winning track as a new season
approaches.
SEM will rely heavily on senior
Sidney Ripp, who averaged 5.7
points and 6.5 rebounds a game
last year.
Joscelyn Soncksen will also play
a significant role, coming off a
season in which she averaged
4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds a
game.
Mekenzie Beattie, Jenaya
Pierce, and Mikayla Dittmar
will also look to earn extended
playing time for the Mustangs.
SEM will open the season on
Nov. 30 on the road against
Loomis.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Mustangs
Class: D-2
2016-17 Record: 3-16
Playoff Appearances: 7
Head Coach: Kathy Petersen-Cline
Career Record: 3-16
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