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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, March 20, 2008 |
Anamosa girls show they belong
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA — What was the Raider girls basketball team going to do?
A team that struggled for wins in the Tri-Rivers Conference making the move to the basketball powerhouse that is the WaMaC? How could the Anamosa girls survive in the loaded class 3A league?
Just fine, thank you very much!
“I know we had a few people around the area a little concerned about us and how we would fare in the new league this season,” said Anamosa girls basketball coach Jack Leighty who was a veteran of the Big Bend and Tri-Rivers Conferences, but was excited about the possibilities and challenges his team faced in the WaMaC. “I thought we came into this season as a team a little nervous and really not knowing what we were going to face in the WaMaC. But we eventually came to relish every challenge in this basketball-heavy league and I thought met the challenge every team brought every night.”
The Raiders tallied a 7-13 mark overall this past season and 6-9 ledger within the WaMaC, good enough for seventh-place in the league overall and fourth in the WaMaC’s East Division.
“The goal before every season is to better the one from the year before,” said Leighty. “We didn’t quite get that done this year winning seven games when we won nine the year before in the Tri-Rivers, but we were also shorted a couple of games due to the weather problems we and everyone had all winter long. We also had some very close, heartbreaking losses that could have easily fallen our way that didn’t and that could have added us a few wins too.”
Western Dubuque claimed the East Division team title posting a 13-2 record followed by Central DeWitt (11-5), Beckman (9-7), the Raiders, Maquoketa (5-9) and West Delaware (4-12).
Marion (15-0) claimed the West Division and overall WaMaC team championship followed by Vinton-Shellsburg (11-5), Benton Community (8-6), Independence (4-11), Waterloo Columbus (4-11) and Center Point-Urbana (0-15).
"The league was tough again this year and will probably be tough every year,” said Leighty. “But that will only make us a better team down the road and I’m excited about the girls we have coming back next year and the things we might be able to do in the league.” |
Lone senior
Anamosa senior Christy Coons passes the basketball to junior Paige Goetz (32) during an early season contest hosting Marion this past winter. Coons, the lone Raider senior on the 2007-2008 squad, provided leadership and a positive attitude for her teammates all season long as the Anamosa girls worked through a 7-13 campaign. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)
Floor general
Raider sophomore Kayla Sanborn ran the show for the Anamosa girls basketball team all season long as the Raiders met the challenge of moving to the WaMaC Conference. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Anamosa will have to do without the services of Christy Coons next winter as the Raiders’ lone senior graduates after scoring 13 points this season.
“Numbers weren’t what Christy was all about,” said Leighty as his senior who gave his club what couldn’t be measured on a stat sheet. “Christy did all those intangibles and gave us energy whenever she was on the court. She got off to a slow start this year opening the season with that foot injury, but she worked hard and got back into the rotation and even when she wasn’t on the floor, she’d be supportive of her teammates from the bench. On the court she gave us a strong defensive presence and didn’t back down from anyone. Christy was never afraid to stick her nose in and battle for the basketball against girls much bigger and stronger than herself. We’ll miss that physical game she brought when we come back next year not only in the games, but at practice too.”
Though the Raider girls will take to the floor next winter without Coons’ services, Leighty does return the bulk of his roster in Paige Goetz, Kayla Sanborn, Jackie Engelbart, Lauren Buck, Kayla Zumbach, Maisie Timp, Chelsey Bildstein, Kandis Bieber, Ryann Pratt, Lauren Herren, Kelly Colehour and Jordan Bickford.
“We’ll have one of our more experienced teams back next year than we’ve had in a while,” said Leighty as he returns his top scorer in Goetz, top rebounder in Buck and top assist and steal member in Sanborn. “We’ve seen what is was like to play in the WaMaC and we can go into next year with a better idea of what to expect.”
While few expected much from the Raiders this past season in their first year in a powerful new league, Leighty knew his team could be competitive.
“I thought we were competitive, all season long,” he said. “Offensively we made huge strides as the season went along and on defense we really got into people’s faces and closed out on the ball.”
A series of narrow, heart-breaking losses early in the season took their toll on the team, but Leighty said his club never lost faith in themselves and believed they belonged in the WaMaC by season’s end.
“We lost four games by seven points or less and those losses hurt this young team,” he said. “But we also learned from those losses and grew this year. Those experiences of how to close out games will be valuable next year and beyond.”
The Raiders posted WaMaC wins over Maquoketa (53-45), Central DeWitt (42-40), Independence (42-36), Center Point-Urbana (47-29), Waterloo Columbus (43-40) and West Delaware (55-40).
“You can’t measure everything in wins and losses,” said Leighty. “We did some nice things offensively and defensively and will come back next year even hungrier wanting to move up in the standings.”
Goetz returns after an all-conference campaign leading the Raider girls scoring 13.4 points per game while Sanborn is also back leading the team in assists and steals.
“We’ve got an experienced backcourt back,” said Leighty. “I really see Paige breaking loose next year and becoming a complete player. Kayla did a nice job of running the offense and will assert herself even more next year.”
Buck was big on the boards while Engelbart added another strong perimeter presence.
“Lauren will just continue to get stronger and we’ll need her to get some more confidence in her offense as well next year,” said Leighty. “We’ll want Jackie shooting even more next year. At times this year she was our best shooter.”
While Goetz, Sanborn, Buck and Engelbart handled most of the scoring duties this past season, Leighty also hopes to see production from several others next winter.
“Chelsey Bildstein, Maisie Timp and Kandis Bieber are all a big part of our plans,” said Leighty. “They all add just another dimension to our team. A team I think can be pretty special next year.” |
Dream becomes reality in Olin
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
OLIN — It’s been the dream for Olin girls basketball coach Wayne Lasack, as well as his team and their fans to compete for a Big East Conference championship, make a deep run in the class 1A tournament and advance to state.
That dream became reality this past season in Olin.
“We did some things this year that hadn’t been done here in a long, long time,” said Lasack who guided the Olin girls basketball through a dream 16-7 campaign that ended in a class 1A regional championship contest against eventual state champion Springville. “We shot up the league standings and beat some teams a lot of people thought maybe we couldn’t. We made a deep, deep run in the playoffs and came one game away from reaching our goal of making it to the state tournament. We beat a very, very good Midland team twice this year. A school no Olin team had beaten since 1994 and to do it two times winning on their home floor was big for us. We made a run deeper into the tournament than we ever have before. So many good things to look back on, I think the fact that we missed out on our goal of making it to state shouldn’t bother too many of the girls. I know I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish this year.”
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Sharing the basketball
Olin’s Danielle Frederick passes the basketball to teammate Emily Brecht during the Lions’ first win at Midland in more than a decade this past season. Frederick was a complete player for the 16-7 Lions scoring 11.3 points per game while also ranking as one of the team’s best in rebounds, assists, steals and field goal percentage. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Olin finished in a tie for fifth in the 13-team Big East Conference posting a 6-4 mark, their highest finish in league since joining the conference with Lasack claiming Coach of the Year honors.
The Lions also reeled off an amazing seven-game winning streak before closing the regular season with a pair of tough defeats.
“That was one incredible run of basketball, but as it turned out, it wouldn’t even be our best,” said Lasack as his club turned on the jets and fueled a memorable run through the class 1A district and regional rounds. “That was another stretch of basketball I know I’ll never forget. I doubt too many people around here will forget it for a long, long time.”
The Lion girls stunned Calamus-Wheatland and Midland on the road to take the district title and then upset a ranked Clinton Prince of Peace team in the regional semi-final.
“I saw our tournament draw and I thought the state made it pretty tough on us possibly playing against a host team on their own court three times,” said Lasack. “We overcame that like we overcame so many other things this year.”
Leading the charge for the Olin girls through this dream campaign was all-state first-team star Kalli Hansen, who led the Lions scoring 21.9 points per game. The team’s lone senior also ripped down 10.2 rebounds, dished out 4.13 assists and swiped 2.26 steals a night.
“Those numbers don’t lie,” said Lasack. “Kalli did it all for us this year. She was amazing.”
Hansen was named Big East Conference Player of the Year and will enroll at Kirkwood Community College to continue her basketball education next winter.
“Watching Kalli grow as a basketball player the last four years has been wonderful,” said Lasack. “She increased her scoring all four years and just kept getting better and better.”
Hansen’s versatility being able to play the point or the post also keyed Olin’s success this past season.
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Leaving a lasting legacy
Olin’s Kalli Hansen leaves the Lion girls basketball program as the top player in school history earning first-team all-state honors while guiding the team to a 16-7 record overall and 6-4 Big East Conference mark. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“We used her everywhere,” said Lasack. “Players like Kalli are few and far between. Our offense flowed through Kalli this year and on defense she guarded the other team’s best player. Everyone on our team benefited from Kalli being on the floor. She took a lot of pressure off just by her mere presence.”
While Lasack loses the services of Olin’s all-time leading scorer and top player in school history, he does return four quality starters in Danielle Frederick, Makenzie Ginn, Kelli Bean and Emily Brecht.
“We have a lot of reasons to be excited about next year too,” said Lasack. “I’m confident everyone will step up their games and make up for the scoring and rebounding we lose with Kalli. D.J. Franksen, Chelsea Wagner, Rachel LeClere, Desirae Meier, Carla Houska and Sydney Lowinski will also help us add depth.”
Frederick returns as the Lions’ top scorer after averaging 11.3 points per game this past season.
“Danielle is a great player who just has a knack for the basketball,” said Lasack. “She really stepped up her perimeter game at the end of this year and that will just get even better next year too.”
Ginn is the team’s top returning rebounder after grabbing 7.4 a night.
“Makenzie is one of those substance over style players,” said Lasack. “She gives us whatever we need and always works hard.”
Bean will be back as the team’s top assist player.
“Kelli did a great job this year,” said Lasack. “She was a big part of our success running the show for us. Having a four-year starting point guard back next year is huge.”
Brecht returns as the team’s steals leader.
“I was glad to see Emily come out this year, the team wouldn’t have been the same without her,” said Lasack. “Emily has the ability to become an all-around force for us in the future much like Kalli has been. It’s up to her, but the talent is there.”
Lasack sees his team being a force in the Big East again next season.
“A lot will depend on how hard the girls work in the off-season,” he said. “But I think they won’t settle for this one special run. I don’t think we’re done quite yet surprising people.” |
Very good and going to get better
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
WYOMING — Missing their top scorer and rebounder from last season in Mary Burmeister, the Midland girls basketball team’s top returning scorer, Katie Leonard, averaged 6.7 points per game.
No Eagle player on the roster last season averaged double figures in scoring as 15 different girls tallied points.
Those numbers changed dramatically in 2007-2008.
Not only did the Midland team have three players average double-figure scoring during a 15-7 campaign this past winter that also saw a sensational 9-3 Big East Conference campaign, but the bulk of the club returns for another run at a league championship next winter.
“I knew we had some good potential coming into this season, but I wasn’t sure if we could come around as quickly as we did,” said third-year Midland girls basketball coach Josh Bentley.
“We had a bunch of people step up for us and had a great second half of the season. We would’ve liked to have a deeper run in the tournament, but we can use that as motivation for next year.”
A deep roster and a bevy of talented players at his disposal this past season saw the Midland girls rank among the elite teams in the Big East Conference as their 9-3 mark was third in the league. |
Back for more
Midland’s Erika Lineburg defends during the Eagles’ class 1A district final contest hosting Olin last month. Lineburg is one of a whopping 10 players who will return to the court next winter after Midland rallied a solid 9-3 Big East Conference mark this past season and 15-7 mark overall. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Clinton Prince of Peace claimed the Big East team title with a perfect 12-0 mark followed by Bellevue-Marquette (11-1) and the Eagles. Preston (7-5), Olin (6-4), North Cedar (6-4), Northeast (6-5), Calamus-Wheatland (5-6), Camanche (5-6), East Central (2-9), Andrew (2-10), Bellevue (1-10) and Lisbon (1-10) rounded out the league standings.
“We played unselfish basketball and that was the biggest reason for our success,” said Bentley. “We had girls on this team who did not care who did what and accepted their roles. That was key and it will be again next year as well.”
The Midland offense was also a key ingredient in the Eagles’ success pouring in an average of 60.2 points per game led by Leonard scoring 12.9 points a contest. Caitlin Bisinger added 12.5 points while running the point guard spot to near perfection dishing out 4.77 assists, swiping 4.50 steals and also grabbing an impressive 5.6 rebounds.
“This was Caitlin’s first full year being our points guard and she grew as the season went along,” said Bentley of his first-team all-Big East player. “Katie had a shortened season but shoots the ball well, finishes strong and handles the ball very well.”
Bentley also returns Aubrey Walters, Channing Paulsen, Shasta Eganhouse, Amy Burmeister, Erika Lineburg, Shelby Leonard, Paige Paulsen and Sammi Jeffery.
“We also have some other girls coming up that we are very high on and looking for them to compete for a spot in the next year or two,” said Bentley who will return a whopping 10 letter winners next winter. “We should be okay in the conference next season. The most important things we need to do is come together as a team, take pride in our defense and continue to gain knowledge both coaches and players.”
Walters scored 10.7 points a night while Channing Paulsen added 5.8 more. |
Making a difference
Eagle Channing Paulsen, playing her first season full-time at the varsity level for the Midland girls, helped out scoring 5.8 points per game while also adding 35 assists and steals. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“Aubrey improved by leaps and bounds this year and I am proud of her for that,” said Bentley. “We have big expectations for her as a senior. Channing had a great second half to the season and is a competitor who does whatever needs to be done on the court.”
Eganhouse was another all-around threat while Burmeister brought energy to the boards.
“Shasta can knock down shots from anywhere, we just need some more consistency with those shots,” said Bentley. “Amy probably has the most natural athletic ability of anyone on the team. She is quick, long, jumps well, rebounds, runs the floor and this year gained more confidence on her offense.”
Lineburg added more perimeter shooting while Paige Paulsen, Shelby Leonard and Jeffery all added depth and size.
“Erika struggled with injuries most of the year but she still did a lot of good things for us shooting the ball,” said Bentley. “Paige is a defensive motor that can get us going by making a play here or there. Shelby learned a lot this year and contributed for us when she was on the floor and Sammi did the same. She didn’t get a whole lot of minutes, but did a lot of nice things and will develop into a good player for us over the next two years.”
The Eagles lose the services of lone senior Kristine Kouba.
“She did far more than what showed up on the stat sheet,” said Bentley. “Kristine is the true example of a team player. She put the team first and was a leader and a teammate each and every day in practice or in timeouts. We will miss her and will need others to step up and fill her role.”
Midland closed the 2007-2008 season winning 10-of-11 games before their district final defeat hosting Olin and with 10 players back, including all five starters, the future looks very bright in Wyoming.
“We did improve as a whole as the year went on offensively,” said Bentley as his team had winning streaks of four, four and six games this past season. “Defensively we did a nice job at times. We did improve as a whole in that area as the year went on and if we can have a good off-season, work hard and continue to improve defensively, it should make next year just that much more enjoyable.” |
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