Sean C. Morgan
New girls basketball Coach Kerstin Brosterhous has seven seniors on her varsity team this year, but a lot of her experience is coming from the underclassmen too.
Three returning seniors are joined by four new seniors, while five juniors return with varsity experience.
Returning seniors are Sabrina Davis, Kendell Anderson and Nicole Bell. Taylor Dermates transferred to SHHS this year. Chloe Muir returns to the program after a year off. Sandeep Grewal returns after playing junior varsity last year, and Ashley Stewart is new to the team.
Returning juniors include Harlee Brendle, Emily Marchbanks, Haley Kent, Jordan Miller and Caytlin Gillespie, said coach Brosterhous. Their time on the court ranged from a couple of quarters to a full game, while also putting in JV time.
Last year, as JV coach, she had different players in every game.
Three JV players also return with varsity experience last year, including juniors Jade Corliss, Mikaela Steiner and Jessica Stockman. Corliss, for one, will play on the varsity court.
Davis backed up Annie Whitfield at point guard last year, Brosterhous said. Gillespie was JV point guard. Davis is a competent ball handler and will handle point, backed up by Gillespie.
Miller will handle post duties along with Brendle and Dermates.
Kent, Marchbanks and Muir will work around the wings, while Anderson is solid all the way around, Brosterhous said.
About eight players will round out the typical rotation, Brosterhous said.
Brosterhous expects a strong man-to-man defense, she said, and the girls are conditioning in the middle and end of practice to ensure they have the necessary endurance.
“We’ve been conditioning a lot,” she said. “When you’re in good shape, you’re more confident.”
The girls will be able to play four quarters, and they’ll do more and more on the court, she said.
“Our offensive sets are going to be working with two or three other people on the court,” Brosterhous said. The attack will depend on the defense.
“I think it’s really good for them to read the defense,” Brosterhous said. “Read the defense and do something else.”
Being able to read the defense will help cut down the number of turnovers and eliminate the other team’s steals, Brosterhous said.
The team has consistent shooters, Brosterhous said, and it has girls who need to be in a rhythm to start dropping the ball. When they move and shoot, they actually sink more baskets than standing and shooting.
The team is devoting a regular practice to conditioning and shooting, Brosterhous said.
Brosterhous doesn’t know the league well yet, she said. She is in her first year as head coach. She was JV coach last year.
Research is important, Brosterhous said, and once the season gets going, the coaching staff will be looking carefully at statistics and doing the necessary research.
“I feel like there’s a different attitude and atmosphere and excitement in the gym,” Brosterhous said. “I’m excited. I’m ready for the games to start.”
The varsity roster includes Muir, Gillespie, Marchbanks, Kent, Ashley Patton, Grewal, Bell, Anderson, Dermates, Corliss, Miller, Brendle and Davis.
The junior varsity coach is Matt Banta. His team includes India Porter, Corliss, Kayleen Keeney, Molly Dadey, Josie Knight, Vanessa Wodtli, Jessica Stockman, Kaitlynn Autry, Andrea Marsh, Mikaela Steiner and Ariel Volkers.
There is no freshman team this year.