As the girls basketball team begins their season, they are competing in Class 3A, instead of 4A.

Senior Haley Lyness, point guard, is excited about the upcoming season. “It is nice going from one of the smallest schools in 4A to one of the biggest schools in 3A,” Lyness said. “We have a better chance of getting farther in districts.”

The girls’ more difficult games will include Mount Vernon, who concluded last year’s season with a record of 16–9 and Central DeWitt  who ended with a 15–7 record. “They have some key players back from last season,” Coach Rod Conrad said. “We will have to be in very good condition, and we must really work on taking care of the ball.”

Finishing the 2015-2016 season with a 10-12 record, just shy of a winning season, Conrad said, “I think we may be just a little faster this year. All the upperclassmen know me a lot better and are getting to know the system better.”  

The team lost last year in their first postseason game against Dubuque Wahlert. “It was disappointing having the season end so early,” junior Lauren Collier said. “We took the loss as motivation to work even harder.”

Although the team lost graduate Kristen Wegmann, last year’s leading scorer, some of the team’s returning top scorers include Haley Lyness (12), Lauren Collier (11), and Annie Cassutt (12).

A new addition to the team is senior Sarah Morkel, who transferred from Independence and was the second leading scorer for the Mustangs.

“Some key players this year will be Haley Lyness and Sarah Morkel.  Both seniors are second-team all-conference last year along with seniors Annie Cassutt and Jamie Glanz,” Conrad said. “We have eight juniors that need to have a great season.”

The girls just finished their second week of practice and are entering the third. “I thought the girls practiced hard,” Conrad said. “Everyone, I thought, was very enthused.”

The team will be facing off tonight against 4A 3rd-rated Waverly-Shell Rock at Waverly.