Joe Drennan
Sports EditorForest Lake girls basketball coach Jack Bender would be lying if he said he knew who was going to be his standout player this year.
Bender only has three returning players from last yearís team that saw some action at the varsity level last year. Those returning players are Renae Frericks, and captains Brianna and Laura McMahon. Last season Frericks averaged seven points and three rebounds a game as a freshman.
The loss of Lindsey Anderson, Mary Sobiech, Christie Brink, Ashley Whinthiser, and Jenny Kling will be felt as they all graduated. Anderson, now at Moorhead State, averaged about 17 points a game for the Rangers, and Sobiech averaged a double-double every game.
ìWith those two gone, we lose about 20 points a game,î Bender said.
Bender said it is going to take time to see who steps up and fills the gap left behind by last yearís seniors.
ìWeíre going to be very young and inexperienced at the varsity level,î Bender said. ìWeíll find out in the next few weeks who is going to step up for us. Those 3 returning players will play a lot for us.î
With such an inexperienced team, the Rangers are going to be forced into getting the experience they lack.
ìThe biggest challenge is to see if we can compete with the other teams in the league,î Bender said. ìWeíre so inexperienced. We have to see if we can step up and compete at that level.î
The loss of the one-two punch as Bender put itís from Anderson and Sobiech is hard to replace on any team, experienced or not.
ìI donít know where those points are going to come from,î Bender said. ìThe challenge is going to be to find someone who puts the ball in the basket.î
Sophomore guard Krista Skogland will be expected to help out on offense despite not having any varsity experience going into the season. Joanna Koski will be helping her out.
Other players who might be able to fill the void are 6-1 junior Tina Oregard, Katie Anderson, and Kasondra Okamosh.
From the defensive end, Bender says his team will have to get out there and guard players aggressively, much the same way the team did last year.
ìWeíre looking to mix it up a little,î Bender said. ìWeíre mixing up our defense a little and we have to play hard all the time with full court pressing.î
Playing as aggressive as Bender plans, the team will rotate players in and out, using up most of the bench, giving a lot of players the opportunity to earn a starting job.
ìWeíll see whatís going to happen,î Bender said. ìA lot more kids are going to have to play and somebody is going to have to step up. Hopefully people will be patient as we are so inexperienced and it will take time.î
Opponents
Coach Bender is not focusing on the teamís opponents too much. He is focusing on his teamís improvement and progression.
Of the teams in the Suburban East Conference, the Rangers will have to watch out for number one ranked Woodbury and number eight ranked White Bear Lake, not to mention Mounds View.
The Rangers will have some time to adapt to each other on the court as their SEC regular season does not start until after the first of the year when they take on White Bear Lake on Jan. 13.
The team kicked off their season against Andover on Dec. 3. Andover was too much for the Rangers to handle, as the Rangers fell 43-36. Laura McMahon scored 10, Frericks 5, and Anderson 8.
The Rangers next game is Saturday against Duluth Denfeld at home, at 1 p.m.
Top of Page
