By Chris Parker
Seneca girls basketball won 22 games and the program’s first district title since 2009 last year. The Indians will have to replace three seniors including Class 4 District 12 Player of the Year Aliya Grotjohn.
“I am very excited for this upcoming season,” Seneca head coach Drew Schulte said. “We only graduated three seniors from last year and we will retain everyone else. They were a big part of our program which led to a district championship. They will be missed and I wish them the best ahead of them. This year we have lots of experience returning, many have started since they were freshman or sophomores.”
Three starters return for the Indians including senior Parker Long, junior Samarah Mittag and sophomore Hazley Grotjohn.
Long, a three-year starter, average 7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last year.
“(She is) our main post in the middle,” Schulte said. “She is primed for a great senior year. Selfless player that really does a lot for us. Offensively, she can score inside as well as shoot beyond the arc making her a dual threat. Defensively, she controls the boards and gives us a great inside presence.”
Mittag was named to the All-Big 8 West Defensive Team last year. She averaged 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2 steals per game.
“(She is) a dual threat both on offense and defense,” Schulte said. “I’m excited to see what she will do this season. She will have to share the load offensively, which I know she is capable of. I expect big things out of her this year. She can be one of our dominant players on the court.”
Hazley Grotjohn made an immediate impact as a freshman scoring 16 points per game with 5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 4.7 steals per game on her way to first-team all-conference honors.
“Hazley continues to improve and work on her game even though she had an astounding freshman year,” Schulte said. “She has already accumulated over 400 points, had 139 steals, and was third on the team in rebounds last year. She continues to put the effort and time in and will be a player to watch the next three years.”
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Daylin McKnight gives Seneca a second senior to lean on for leadership. She played in 18 games during her injury-shortened junior season.
“McKnight looks to bounce back from an ankle injury that hindered her for much of her junior year,” Schulte said. “She shot the three really well, and was in our top three at one time for most 3-pointers made before she was injured. I look for her to get back to where she was and have a great senior year.”
Juniors Mackenzie French and Sydnee Staley round out the returning varsity players.
French played in all 29 contests last year averaging 2.5 points per game.
“Makenzie French will be competing for a starting position,” Schulte said. “She had a good summer and improved offensively and defensively. I look for her to step it up and help out in a major way.”
Staley saw action in 16 varsity contests last year.
“Sydnee Staley will be competing for a starting position,” Schulte said. “She has the capability to be a shutdown defensive specialist. She doesn’t score a lot of points, but makes up for it with rebounding and her speed.”
Juniors Caroline Leonard and Danessa Macy along with sophomore Daelynd Campbell and freshman Olivia Haase will look to impact varsity this year.
Schulte on Leonard: “Caroline will look to gain varsity time this year at the post position. She hustles, plays great defense, and brings a lot of energy to the team.”
Schulte on Macy: “Danessa had a great summer with us. She really stepped up and hit timely shots. She’s aggressive on defense, has great speed, and her offense has improved.”
Schulte on Campbell: “Daelynd will see varsity time down low. She’s strong and smart. She’s aggressive on the boards and is developing a nice mid-range jumper. She will compete for varsity minutes.”
Schulte on Haase: “Just a freshman, I believe Olivia has a bright future ahead as a Seneca Indian. She’s got great basketball instincts, shoots the ball well, and plays and works hard. I was very impressed with what I have seen out of her so far.”
Sophomore Ashtyn Lannon moved in from Neosho and will compete for varsity time.
Seneca will open the season on Nov. 21 at Neosho.
“Our expectations stay the same but the bar is raised,” Schulte said. “We do not have the size that most people have, but we make that up with our speed on defense. We have the possibility to fill it up from the outside, but everyone will have to produce for our team to be successful. There will have to be a lot of players step up defensively and offensively if we are to have a year like we did last year. Defensively, our philosophy will not change much, we still have to apply lots of pressure, stay out of foul trouble and we have to control the boards. As usual, we need to prevent second chances for our team to be successful. I believe with the amount of work they have put into the summer will pay off for them.”
