Bulldog girls’ basketball looking to improve this season

By Cara L. Dempski

BOYCEVILLE — The Boyceville girls’ basketball team has been plagued by injuries the previous two seasons.

Last year, the lack of healthy players resulted in a 5-9 record and a sixth-place showing in the Dunn-St. Croix for the Bulldogs, who finished 7-16 after a first-round loss in the WIAA Division 4 regional competition to Osseo-Fairchild.

Veteran head coach Jolene Bird said the team hopes to improve, but that will take a healthy dose of luck.

“Obviously staying healthy is our number one goal,” Bird stated. “We hope to have an opportunity to have everyone healthy and contribute to a successful season.”

Marki Lagerstrom and Jenna Beyrer were the team’s only graduates this past May. According to Bird, the duo was consistent role players for the team.

Letter winner Madysn Riek will return to the team this season after being named second team all-conference last season. The senior topped last year’s squad in scoring with an average of 13.4 points per game. She leads a group of eight talented seniors, six of whom have at least a full year of varsity experience.

Senior Morgan Kuhn is a third-year starter. She averaged 6.4 points per game and recorded 60 assists last season. Fellow seniors Riek and Cassie Malean have two years of varsity experience. Malean led the 2015-16 team in three-point shots, draining 88 shots for a total of 199 points over 23 games.

Emma Harnisch and Brooklyn Booth also return to the team as letter winners. Fellow seniors Carlee Schultz, Mya Dryden and Brooklyn Hellmann will also be making contributions on court this season.

Bird said she has some skilled underclassmen that will have the opportunity to fill positions on the varsity roster. Juniors Kylie Kruger and Marissa Dormanen both have varsity experience, though Dormanen is currently out with an ACL injury. Coach Bird expects Dormanen will return to the court in January.

Mariah Drury is another junior who will hope to see playing time this season.

The team has a small crop of sophomores in Amber Retzloff, Alyx Bloom and Hope Hendrix, but has a substantial number of freshmen to round out its ranks. Freshmen currently listed on the roster are Emma Ouellette, Hannah Johnson, Megan Hintzman, Desiree Lo, Tyra Kostman, Rachel Prestrud, Naomi Hillman, Taylor Grambow and Anna Evenson.

Last season, the WIAA instituted a two half game instead of four quarters. Bird said the two halves will be less of a factor this season, but can still create issues.

“Bench depth is very helpful,” she stated.

As for this year’s conference title chase, Bird sees defending champion Elk Mound as one of the top contenders for the 2016-17 crown as they return last year’s player of the year, Elizabeth Fasbender, and have several experienced players around her. Bird also believes that Durand and Colfax, both heavy with young talent, will be pushing the Mounders.

Bird is entering her 20th year coaching and will be assisted by Jay Lagerstrom for a second straight season. She has an overall record of 264-163.

The Bulldogs traveled to Amery this past Monday, November 14, for a scrimmage against Amery, Clear Lake and St. Croix Falls. They will then head to Turtle Lake this Friday, November 18 to officially open regular season play before taking a 10-day break. Boyceville will play again after Thanksgiving when it goes to Clear Lake on November 28. In fact, Boyceville’s first four contests are all on the road. It’s home opener is not until Tuesday, December 13 when it hosts defending conference champion Elk Mound.

2016-17 Roster

Seniors: Brooklyn Booth, Cassie Malean, Carlee Schultz, Madysn Riek, Emma Harnisch, Mya Dryden, Morgan Kuhn, Brooklyn Hellmann.

Juniors: Kylie Krueger, Marissa Dormanen, Mariah Drury.

Sophomores: Amber Retzloff, Alyx Bloom, Hope Hendrix.

Freshmen: Emma Ouellette, Hannah Johnson, Megan Hintzman, Desiree Lo, Tyra Kostman, Rachel Prestrud, Naomi Hillman, Taylor Grambow, Anna Evenson.