Wilmot girls among Southern Lakes favorites

By Dan Truttschel~Sports Correspondent

As a new season approaches, nearly every single coach is optimistic that his or her team will have success.

Of course, some of that optimism isn’t realistic – but in the case of Wilmot girls coach Keiya Square, it’s definitely warranted.

And Square has the roster to prove it.

Wilmot returns a core of girls with plenty of varsity experience from the team that was in contention for a Southern Lakes Conference title right to the end a year ago. Badger eventually won the crown.

But there’s no looking back for Wilmot – only forward.

“This team could be better than our team last year, and that team won 17 games,” Square said. “Our non-conference schedule is more difficult than last year, which should help us in conference play and going into the playoffs.

“I expect for this team to make a major push for the conference championship and a solid run in the playoffs.”

Back for the Panthers in 2012-2013 are senior starters Sarah Vozel, Kaytlyn Eidson and Taylor Tenhagen and junior Kari Clements.

Vozel, who recently inked an NAIA Division 2 scholarship to Ashford University (Clinton, Iowa), led the Panthers last year with 357 points, good for a 14.9 per-game clip. Eidson was next with 286 points (11.9), followed by Clements with 268 (11.2) and Tenhagen with 151 (6.3).

“All four of these players have a lot of varsity experience, and I expect for them to show our younger players what it takes to win games at the varsity level,” Square said.

“They need to lead by example, work hard each day in practice, and when the time comes in games, they need to make the plays that they should.”

Square said it helps that Vozel and Eidson entered the program when the coaching staff began its Wilmot tenure – so those two almost act like additional coaches on the floor.

“They know what we are looking for,” he said. “We need for them to become more vocal during practice to make sure we are preparing ourselves to win conference and make a run in the playoffs.”

Joining that foursome on the varsity roster are senior Jenna Venem; juniors Danielle Klotz and Jenna Damon; and sophomores Justine Schattner, Marnie Destree, Rachel Szyldowski and Haylee Martin.

Youth and inexperience will be two areas the Panthers have to overcome, Square said.

“Our bench is going to be very young, as we have four sophomores who will play major roles for us this year,” he said. “I am also concerned with our lack of a good on-the-ball defender, and our defensive intensity hasn’t been where we would like it to this point.”

The keys to success won’t change this year, Square said, as he and his coaches continue to preach the importance of sound team defense.

That was the case throughout last season, and that again will be a major point of emphasis this year.

“Our underclassmen are very talented, and when they start playing without having to think we should be a good basketball team,” Square said.

“The past two years, we have won games on the defensive end. We are more talented one through 11 on offense this year, and if we can get to the point of playing good, sound team defense along with our offensive talent, we should be really successful.”

Looking at the SLC race, Square sees another battle to the end that includes Badger, Waterford and Union Grove.

Square coached at Delavan-Darien prior to coming to Wilmot, so he’s been around the conference a while now – and he knows every single night is a fight to the finish.

“There are some good coaches in our conference, and there aren’t very many easy wins in our league,” he said. “Any team can beat anyone on any night, so we need to be ready to go each night.”

Wilmot opened its season with a non-conference contest Tuesday at Burlington Catholic Central. The Panthers then will be idle until the following Tuesday, Nov. 27, when they travel to West Allis Central.

 

 


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