Lady Panthers hungry for more

Team has high expectations after sectional final appearance

By Dan Truttschel

Sports Correspondent

The 2014-15 season is just two games old, and there’s still plenty of questions to answer for the Wilmot girls basketball team.

That’s to be expected this early in a new year – but don’t be surprised if the Panthers find plenty of answers when all is said and done.

Wilmot, the defending Sothern Lakes Conference champion that advanced to the sectional final last year, appears ready to make some noise again.

The Panthers return three seniors from that squad and have a slew of new players who hope to make their mark.

“Things are going OK (so far),” Wilmot coach Keiya Square said. “We are still trying to figure out what pieces we have and which ones play the best together.

“We are 1-1 and have some work to do, but the girls have been working hard.”

Wilmot opened the year last Tuesday with a 43-39 win over Prairie School, but fell to New Berlin Eisenhower 64-36 Friday night. The Lions entered the year ranked No. 2 in Division 2.

Even though Wilmot has to replace two-time Southern Lakes Conference Player of the Year Kari Clements and her 15.6 points per game average, the expectations remain the same.

And they’re just as high as ever, Square said.

“I think we will compete to be in the top half of our conference,” he said. “There is a lot of talent back in the conference this year, and every game should be a battle.”

Square identified his team’s overall depth, with 15 players on the varsity roster, and its post play as two strengths.

Areas that need to improve, at least early on, include overall youth at the guard position and shooting, both from the field and the free-throw line.

 

Seniors lead the way

To help bring those young players along, Square will lean on seniors Marnie Destree (5-9, guard-forward) and Rachel Szydlowski (5-9, forward) to lead the way.

Szydlowski enters her last high school season as the Panthers leading scorer from a year ago at 10.5 points per game. She scored 10 in the loss to Eisenhower and eight against the Prairie School.

Destree averaged 3.9 points a year ago.

“I expect them to lead both vocally and by example,” Square said. “They both have been on varsity since their sophomore years and know what it takes to win at a high level. They will need to make sure that is happening each day.”

Also back this year is senior Lauren Feltner (5-11, forward). That trio is joined by two girls who return to the program, Kat Savage (5-4, guard) and Haylee Martin (5-9 guard-forward).

Three juniors return to the varsity from a year ago in Sam Kirk (5-6, guard), Teya Gaines (5-8 forward-guard) and Olivia Klahs (5-8, guard). Other juniors on the roster are Sam Schloegl (5-1, guard), Ellie Turner (5-8, forward), Khol Rohrman (5-9, forward) and Maggie Beth (5-8, forward).

Rohrman and Turner saw limited varsity time as sophomores.

Sophomores on the roster are Devin Coleman (5-6, guard), McKenna Stanek (5-2, guard) and Delaney Sjong (5-10, guard-forward), who transferred from Westosha Central.

Top contenders for the SLC title this year should include Waterford, ranked 10th in the preseason state rankings, and Union Grove, Square said.

“They return almost everyone from last year’s teams,” he said. “Badger will also be in the top half.”

The keys for Wilmot remain the same as every year, Square said, and it all starts with defense.

Once that gets locked in, everything else usually follows.

“We need to turn people over on defense and not turn the ball over on offense,” Square said. “We have some kids who can score in the half-court, but we need to be strong at times. Right now, we are just out there playing and haven’t jelled yet.”

Wilmot opens SLC action next Tuesday when it hosts Waterford, followed by a matchup with visiting Delavan-Darien Friday, Dec. 5. Both games begin at 7 p.m.

 


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