Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Returning seniors Nicki Aerni and Hannah Swanson will lead a transition-oriented attack on the girls basketball court this season.
The Huskies return Swanson at point guard and Aerni at wing. Both were starters last year.
Junior Tabby Trahan, who started in about half of last year’s games, will start at the other wing.
Junior Sara Brocard, who started at post in several games, will take the lead spot at post this year.
The Huskies lost Dani Thireault to an ACL injury during volleyball, and Ashlee Flanagan has decided to devote her efforts to swimming this year.
Also returning are juniors Makenzie Marchbanks at post and Erika Snow at wing.
Breanne Messmer, a junior transfer with experience on Lebanon’s varsity squad, will also play at post.
“She looks to be a real solid player for us, enthusiastic, with a positive attitude,” Coach Jason Gorham said. Though Messmer and Brocard are both small, they are physical, which will make up for size.
Rounding out the varsity squad are sophomore Ashley Danielson backing Swanson up at point guard and juniors Olivia Lake and Michelle Aerni at wing.
“They’re both kids that have potential to be scorers,” Gorham said of Lake and Aerni. “They shoot the ball real well and can bring offense off the bench.”
The team is small and young, but it defends hard and are quick. The Huskies have more speed at more positions, Gorham said. The fast-paced action should help improve the team’s ball control, cutting down on turnovers.
“We’ve got some kids who love to play hard,” Gorham said. “Overall, we’ve got a lot of speed, which isn’t something we’ve had in the past.”
He said the team will play an up-tempo game with more pressure defense, including more half-court and full-court traps.
“The kids are enjoying getting out and using their speed,” Gorham said. “I look for these kids to get out and play and show what they have early in the season.”
The Huskies’ problem with turnovers has typically showed itself in the teamís half-court offense, he said.
“Hannah Swanson does a real good job of protecting the ball at point guard,” Gorham said. He is looking to her for leadership in ball control.
The Huskies have had some trouble with the full-court press in the past, Gorham said, but he thinks the speed this year will help break the presses.
“We’re going to try to beat other teams by being quicker than they are,” he said.
The team is showing some accuracy in practice, Gorham said.
“The kids are more confident than they have been in the past with taking shots. I expect to see more consistent shooting from us.”
Aerni agreed. “I think people are more willing to shoot,” she said.
Gorham expects the fast transition game to result in easy lay-ins and open looks at the basket, he said. The girls will get more attempts and better looks.
“Our half-court defense is something we’ve always relied on,” Gorham said. The girls are proud of it and have done a good job holding opponents below their average.
“We just haven’t always been able to capitalize on that,” he said.
Aerni said she expects the Huskies to “work together more as a team,” she said.
Swanson said that communication has definitely improved this year, which she expects to help the Huskies on the court.
Both are encouraged by the new emphasis on speed and endurance.
“Last year, we didn’t really condition,” Aerni said. “This year, we’ve been conditioning after every practice.”
It’s paying off already, Swanson said.
“Everyone’s feeling pretty good,” she said. “Our practices are way better,” with more conditioning and more practice at the foul line.
The Huskies’ opponents “are beatable,” Swanson said. “Our goal is to make playoffs and pass the first round. And the rate we’re going, I think we’re going to get it.”
The Huskies finished 5-17 last year in a league with two state-level teams, North Marion and Cascade.
Those two teams are still high quality, Gorham said, but he doesn’t expect them to be be state contenders as they were last year.
The Capital Conference doesn’t have the standout teams it had, he said.
“I think there’s going to be a more even field in the league,” he said. Stayton returns most of its players and is probably the league favorite. Sisters is competitive and returns most of its players as well. Sisters has finished third in league the last two years. Molalla will be young, but it has some good players coming along.
“We feel more confident we can go and play against these teams on any night.”
Making the playoffs means finishing third or fourth in league, Gorham said.
“We’re going to go out and win more than in the past,” he said of his team. “They’re coming together and relying on each other and working as a team.”
The junior varsity will be coached by newcomer Chad Christenson. Ann Knight returns for her third year coaching the freshmen.
The junior varsity includes Amber Erickson, Kayla Thompson, Alex Thompson, Nicole Fagan, Katie Stredwick, Lacey Mink, Becky Spencer, Michelle Morneault, Jenny Hamn and Jessalyn Seiber.
Freshmen include Paige Niemi, Lea Rasmussen, Casey Myers, Heather Polley, Tristen Sele, Marlene Trujillo, Conna Erickson, Jazmin Gill, Alyssa Marner, Madison Sexton and Kathy Wilson.