3-time all-conference
14 points, 8 rebounds a game last year
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Last winter coach Jason Berg traded in his full-court pressure, up-tempo style of play for one with more emphasis on half-court sets and defense.
With Berg moving on to an administrative position in Owatonna and all-conference post players Jordan Bridges and Elena Koch lost to graduation, first-year coach Sondra Chadwick is looking to change things up again.
"We will be a physically smaller team than last year, but much quicker," Chadwick said. "We will use that speed to play an up-tempo style of game, applying a variety of full-court pressure and scoring in transition."
Chadwick has 15 varsity hopefuls practicing for the upcoming season, including seven seniors: forwards Taylor Meyer, Desiree Loftus, Mariah Mincke, Deva White and Allie Rice and guards Isis Alexander and Gabby White.
Meyer is a three-time all-Missota Conference selection who averaged 14 points and eight rebounds a contest to help lead the Tigers to the Section 1AA championship game last season. Unfortunately, the 1000-point scorer will be unavailable for duty in the early going after tearing a knee ligament last summer.
"Our hope is that she will be able to join in games by the time we begin conference play at the start of January," Chadwick said. "In her absence, it will give some of the other girls an opportunity to step into what will be for many their first varsity experience."
Underclassmen expected to compete for varsity floor time this season include junior forwards Callie Halterman and Rikaya Wofford; sophomore forwards Jeanna Gaalswyk and Ally Grebner; sophomore guard Kylee Glen; freshmen guards Sofia Chadwick and Abby Gallus and freshman forward Sydney Speer.
"The team has a mix of solid experience in our senior group, plus some talented and hard-working underclassmen who are eager to contribute," Chadwick said.
"There will be a learning curve, but I'm hoping we can hit our stride by mid-season and become a stronger team overall heading into both conference and section play. It will depend on how quickly the players can adapt to one another and a new style of play."
Chadwick hopes to put together a top-four finish in both the Missota Conference and Section 1AA races. She picked Chanhassen as an early favorite in the Missota with newcomer Lakeville North a heavy favorite in the race for section honors.
Pam Quiram, a former assistant at Osseo and Eden Prairie, steps in as Chadwick's top assistant with Joe McCarthy returning to handle the B-squad coaching chores. Mike Woody and Jon Ostgaard team up to coach the eighth-graders with Katie Buehlo and Teresa Oyen slated to coach the seventh grade teams.
The Tigers open their season Tuesday, Nov. 29, with a non-conference game at Section 1 rival Rochester Century.
