(Audubon) The 2020-21 season outlook for the Audubon girls basketball team brings some good news and some bad news.
On the positive end, Jaci Christensen and Aleah Hermansen return for their third season as varsity assets. The junior duo combined for over 27 points and more than 15 rebounds per game last year. However, starters Mallory Riebhoff, Leah Subbert, Rylie Hartl, and reserve McKenna Petersen all graduated.
“We have a lot of holes to fill from last year. We lost three seniors starters and we are right now trying to find other people that can fit around with Jaci and Aleah. We have to create some depth, so we have a long road ahead of us.” Head coach Darran Miller admits the first week of practice showed that they didn’t get a lot of work done in the offseason.
If they can hit their peak this season they have a good 1-2 punch on the offensive end with Christensen and Hermansen. Additionally, coach Miller believes they can play strong defense. “I think we are going to change some things up based on our personnel. Anytime we can play good, half court defense that’s going to be huge for us.”
They’ve been working on the fundamentals so far in practice, “A lot of dribbling, passing, shooting, just trying to get ourselves back on track. Trying to find the ones that want to work on it.”
Among the players ready to form a supporting cast include Katelyn Nielsen, Johanna Sauers, Kodie Sporrer, and Kate Tessman along with some sophomores that, ready or not, will get thrown into the action.
Audubon went 15-8 last season. It was their highest win total since 2015-16. The Wheelers start off against a very powerful South Central Calhoun squad on November 30th.
Coach Miller looks for AHSTW and Underwood to be strong in the Western Iowa Conference this season with usual suspects such as Treynor, IKM-Manning, and Logan-Magnolia likely factoring into the conversation.
