The last two seasons have been tough ones for the Tomah Timberwolves girls basketball team.
Two years ago, the Timberwolves went 5-20. Last year, theTimberwolves went 2-24 and finished in last place in the Mississippi Valley Conference.
This season, THS is looking to grow as a team. For head coach Mark Von Haden, growth means becoming better basketball players and gaining a better understanding of the game.
“I want our players to understand their teammates’ strengths and to be able to mix with their strengths to make a better team,” Von Haden, who enters his 13th season as the head coach, said.
Von Haden also said he would like to see the team mesh well together throughout the season
One difference between the team this season and last season according to Von Haden is that he thinks the team is playing with more excitement this season.
“They came ready to play on the first day and they have been hustling at every practice so far,” the coach said.
Von Haden said the team lost two key players in Lily Noth and Jordan Brooner after last year. However, this season there will still be key players for the Timberwolves in Brielle Plueger who was the team’s leading scorer last season with 12.7 points per game, Abby Gordon, and Avary Chapman, Gordon and Chapman both averaged 6.0 points per game last season.
“Brielle is a returning junior, she gets our offense going and she can shoot the ball pretty good. Abby and Avary, they are returning from last years’ team and I am looking for a big step up from both of them and more defining roles for them,” Von Haden said.
Heading into this season, depth and experience will be some areas of concern according to Von Haden, but he said that shooting can be an area of strength for the THS.
“We shoot a lot of three-pointers in practice, and we have some girls that can knock down the threes,” Von Haden said. “Our offense revolves around getting layups and three-pointers, so we have to be able to knock some shots down. Hopefully they can show what they do in practice rolls over to the games.”
In the first couple of games, Von Haden says he wants to see how the team gels together. The Timberwolves return six players and those returning players will have to step up this season.
“Maybe they are moving into a starting role, and they have to be able to give us starter minutes and give us some points, so we don’t rely on one or two girls to score all our points,” Von Haden said.
The team will open the season at Wisconsin Rapids on Nov. 20.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here