Lady Panthers open season with two wins

By Jason Arndt

Staff Writer

According to sixth-year coach Keiya Square, the Wilmot Union High School girls basketball team is moving forward, maintaining its goal of capturing a Southern Lakes Conference title this season.

The Panthers (12-12 overall) finished the 2014-15 season tied for fourth with Burlington at 7-7, but came up short of winning the WIAA Division 2 regional title.

Square hopes the team, which boasts seven returning letter-winners and multiple promising newcomers, can take the next step.

“Going into every year, our expectations are to improve every day, and compete for a conference championship and putting ourselves in a position to advance far in the WIAA playoffs,” Square said.

While the Panthers will be without Rachel Szydlowski, a two-time first-team SLC, and three-year letter-winner Marnie Destree, the coach said it is nothing new for the program.

“Each of the past three seasons we have lost first team all-conference players and we don’t ask any of the players to fill their shoes,” Square said.

Two of the seven letter-winners made an early statement in the first two non-conference games of the season, senior 5-foot-6 guard Sam Kirk and junior 5-10 forward Delaney Sjong.

Kirk was the team-leader in assists (42), second in points (166) and steals (40) a year ago.

In the 91-56 season-opening win against Kenosha Indian Trail Nov. 20, Kirk poured in 19 points, snagged four rebounds, blocked three shots and contributed seven assists.

Kirk was a rebound shy of a double-double in the 63-57 win against Racine Prairie Nov. 24, collecting a 18 points, nine boards, four assists and three steals.

“(Sam) has put a lot of time into her game over the past four years and now it is all coming together for her.”

Meanwhile, Sjong has thrived in the post, collecting a team-leading eight rebounds against Indian Trail, where she also notched 13 points.

Sjong had a double-double against Prairie, where she grabbed 10 rebounds and produced 14 points.

The junior’s early performance does not surprise Square.

“Delaney has been doing everything we thought she was going to do,” Square said. “Right now she is that consistent scorer in the post and she has really rebounded well for us so far.”

“We expect her to continue to dominate in the paint and be the leader of our post group,” he added.

Other returning letter-winners are 5-8 senior forward Teya Gaines, 5-6 junior guard Devin Coleman, 5-2 junior guard McKenna Stanek, 5-8 senior guard Olivia Klahs and 5-8 senior guard/forward Ellie Turner.

Stanek, who was third in steals with 35 a year ago, had five against Indian Trail.

Turner scored 10 points against Indian Trail.

“(They) are all returning players that we are expecting to take the next step in their games,” Square said.

Additionally, the Panthers added key newcomers, 5-11 sophomore forward Morgan Zenon and 5-11 junior Maddie Martin.

Zenon has three rebounds and three blocked shots, while Martin has six boards thus far.

“All of our newcomers bring something different to the table,” Square said. “Right now we have seen a lot of good things out of Morgan Zenon and Maddie Martin in the post.”

Square hopes the Panthers have all the right ingredients to produce a formidable season, noting all SLC teams have different challenges, but has Union Grove marked on the calendar.

The Broncos defeated Wilmot three times last year, including the season-ending loss in the regional finals.

“Union Grove has been picked by everyone to win the conference so I would have to say they will be a challenge for us,” he said.

 


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