By Chris Parker
McAuley girls basketball is aiming for a seventh straight winning season with four varsity players including two all-conference selections returning this season.
Senior Lily Black and junior Kloee Williamson both earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
“We will rely on the leadership of senior Lily Black and junior Kloee Williamson to help mold the younger players,” said McAuley Catholic head coach Mike Howard. “There may be some learning curves at the beginning, and our patience will undoubtably have to be high, but as time progresses, I believe the younger kids will grow more confident and we should be able to compete at a high-level once districts arrive.”
Black scored 6.4 points per game with 7.8 rebounds last season. She also contributed 2.1 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.
“Lily is our returning starting post player and will be our lone senior this year,” Howard said. “We will look for her to step into a bigger role in all phases of the game. She is a tremendous defender, averaging 2.1 blocks per game, and will be called upon to score more often than last season. She is a high character person that leads by example and always gives maximum effort.”
Williamson is the leading-returning scorer who put in 7.4 points per game with 2.9 rebounds, 2 assists and 3.7 steals per game.
“Kloee is our other returning starter at guard,” Howard said. “She will look to lead this team at point guard and will be called upon to score much more this season. She is relentless on defense and will create many turnovers. She is also a high character person that uplifts players and gives encouragement.”
Juniors Kendall Ramsey and Kaitlyn Bates also return with varsity experience.
Ramsey played in 26 games last year pulling down 2.5 rebounds per game.
“Kendall will have a much bigger role this year,” Howard said. “She will play big minutes and will be called upon to provide defense and rebounding. I look for her game to evolve tremendously this year.”
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Bates saw action in 11 games averaging 1.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.
“Kaitlyn was out half the season with a knee injury last year,” Howard said. “She will be called upon to play in the post and will provide a scoring threat and good rebounding.”
The freshman quartet of Brooke Righter, Keira Mays, Vanessa Diaz and Crystal Torres will look to have immediate varsity impacts.
Howard on Righter: “Brooke is a talented freshman that was the primary ball handler on the junior high teams. She will be called upon to bring the ball up the floor and use her quickness to beat the defender.”
Howard on Mays: “Keira is a tall post player that can rebound very well. Once we get her footwork down, she will be a huge asset in the post both offensively and defensively.”
Howard on Diaz: “Vanessa is a very good shooter from mid-range. We will look for her to make some key baskets this year.”
Howard on Torres: “Crystal is a tremendous defender. She has great instincts and jumps in the passing lane for timely steals. We will look for her to be aggressive on defense.”
Replacing a pair of decorated seniors who were all-time program greats will be key if McAuley Catholic is to keep up its recent run of success.
“(We need to improve) scoring. Anytime you lose two of the top four scorers in program history, and the top three scorers from last season, offense becomes a focal point,” Howard said. “We will need younger players to step up and fill those voids as best they can.”
McAuley Catholic opens the season on Nov. 22 at home against Liberal.
