By Nolan Epstein (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Following an 32-point loss to Spokane in the first round of district play that closed the door on a 12-14 season a year ago, the Galena Lady Bears have turned the page and are eager to turn heads in a competitive SWCL.
Head coach Mark Vert’s team heads into the new season with talent at all four grade levels, but will have to deal with the graduation of a dangerous trio from last year.
Dallas Howard (11.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.4 SPG), LeAnne Sansoucie (7.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG) and Rachel Harding (10.7 PPG, 2.4 APG), all of whom played pivotal roles in their respective careers for Galena, have moved on – leaving the team in new, but very capable hands.
“This team has some really good pieces that we can put together as coaches,” Vert said. “If our players can come together in terms of their chemistry, we can be pretty good.”
Next up to take the reigns for the Lady Bears is a pair of seniors in Ashlee Greenway and Alison Stephens.
Greenway averaged 5.5 PPG last season and surprised her opponents by proving to be a threat from deep – shooting nearly 30 percent from the 3-point arc. Despite catching many off guard, it was nothing new for Coach Vert and the Lady Bears.
“She wasn’t a surprise to us,” Vert said of Greenway. “We started seeing flashes during the summer and preseason. During the summer, she improved her ball skills and can use the dribble to attack the rim or create passing lanes, which makes her a dual threat.”
Greenway will be complemented by Stephens, who saw minutes last year as a reserve. Although not considered a significant scoring threat during her junior campaign, her production, as well as her intangible qualities, will be felt on a greater scale this winter.
“[Stephens] has improved greatly this summer, and has embraced her role as a team leader and mentor to our young players,” said Vert. “Her impact will be felt in a variety of ways.”
One of Galena’s most targeted weapons will be junior Megan Caulfield – and for good reason. Caulfield put up nearly 12 PPG last season and has been working to improve her skill-set in every facet of play on offense.
“[Caulfield] has grown as a player with a better understanding of how hard she has to work within our system and in her understanding of her own abilities,” Vert said. “She must improve her consistency in every offensive category for us to have a great year.”
Two additional juniors, a sophomore and five freshmen round out the varsity roster available for Vert, who should be able to easily mix and match players on the court as necessary.
As far as the schedule is concerned, the Lady Bears will get to experience three tournaments during the season – including the Fordland Tournament, the Southwest Girls Holiday Tournament and their own Galena Lady Bear Classic. In addition, plenty of tests await them in conference play, highlighted by a Jan. 12 showdown at Crane.
It certainly won’t be easy to rack up the wins in 2016-17, but for Vert, his team’s record is far from the only thing that matters.
“Everyone judges success in terms of wins and losses, but I don’t,” added Vert. “I want to see us get better every day, every game. I want to see us play hard, smart and together, and to be fundamentally sound. If and when we do those things, we will be successful no matter how many games we win.”
The Lady Bears host Exeter to open up the season on Nov. 22.
