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Blue Water Area girls basketball 2022-23 season preview

Updated: Dec 1, 2022

We’re less than a week away from tipoff of the 2022-23 girls basketball season. Games can officially begin on Monday, Nov. 28, and this year, teams are allowed to play 22 games, giving fans two extra opportunities to watch and cheer for their hometown favorites.


Marysville and Imlay City return as conference and district champions, Port Huron High and Port Huron Northern will introduce new coaches, and the battle for a BWAC title ought to be a close one as some of last year’s top teams return large portions of their lineups.


Let’s take a closer look at the season to come:


AROUND THE BWAC

Imlay City


2021-22 season: 19-4 overall, 14-0 BWAC. Conference and District champions.


Coach: Bill Lengemann, entering his first year as head coach, spent 5 years as assistant


Key returners: Lily Lengemann and Lexa Forti


Losses to graduation: Mary Lengemann, Ana Lengemann, and Jaya Forti


Coach’s comment: We lost 80% of our scoring from last year, but I am very excited to see what some of our young players can do.


First game: Thursday, Dec. 1 v. Clio (7 p.m.)


Yale


2021-22 Season: 14-8 overall, 11-3 in the BWAC (2nd)


Coach: Bryan Goulding, entering his sixth season


Key returners: Abbi Dykstra, Gracie Ostrander, and Alyssa Barr


Losses to graduation: Jenna Griffith and Natalie Long


Coach’s comment: Our team had a good year last year placing second, and we return four out of five starters so we should be competing for a league title.


First game: Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Port Huron Northern (7 p.m.)


Armada


2021-22 Season: 14-8 overall, 10-4 in the BWAC (3rd)


Coach: John Baerwolf, entering his eighth season


Key returners: Meya Drob, Ella Sutton, Brooklyn Pratt, and Ashlyn Upton

Losses to graduation: Emma Cleland and Hailey Schramm


Coach’s comment: We’re looking to stay healthy and work on competing against the teams in our league and using our non-league games to get better.


First game: Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Deckerville (7:30 p.m.)


North Branch


2021-22 season: 13-9 overall, 8-6 in the BWAC (4th)


Coach: Tim Gormley, entering his 13th season


Key returners: Bailey Gormley, Natasha Bickel, Maci Kaake, and Tracey Ludescher


Losses to graduation: None


Comment: Looking for a strong season and to be very competitive in the league. I believe this group of girls has the ability to win the league.


First game: Tuesday, Nov. 29 v. Marysville (7:30 p.m.)


Algonac


2021-22 Season: 10-11 overall, 6-8 in the BWAC (5th)


Coach: Dan Matzka, entering his 14th season


Key returners: Ella Stephenson, Jaycee Reams, Danielle Rowland, and Deanna DeLange


Losses to graduation: We lost five seniors that were with the program for four years.


Coach's comment: We returned four players with a good amount of experience. Our numbers are low, so we will need to mix less experienced players in with our returners as the season progresses we should get better and better.


First game: Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Marine City (7 p.m.)


Almont


2021-22 Season: 7-14 overall, 4-10 in the BWAC (6th)


Coach: Erik Johnson, entering his seventh season


Key returners: Kendall Roszczewski, Grace Koenig, Lydia LaCavera, Brandi Zimmer, and Ava Panduren.


Losses to graduation: Grace Johnson, Lizzy Brandt, and Sarah Hall


Coach’s comment: We’re excited to see what we can bring to the table every night. We have a good core returning and some younger athleticism to join us.


First game: Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Brandon (6 p.m.)


Croswell-Lexington


2021-22 Season: 3-19 overall, 2-12 in the BWAC (7th)

Coach: Katelyn Noll, entering her second season


Key returners: Isabella Edwards, Emma Noll, Savannah Krampits, Aubrey Connelly, Brooklyn Schultz, Melody Persig, and Mackenzy Dennison


Losses to graduation: Olivia Brunk, Ava Vitale, and Brooklyn Miller


Coach’s comment: We are a young team and have some key returning girls. We also have a couple of seniors who took a year off who will benefit us this season. The girls put hard work in this summer and we are excited to get out on the court.


First game: Thursday, Dec. 1 v. Deckerville (7:30)


Richmond


2021-22 season: 4-16 overall, 1-13 in the BWAC (8th)


Coach: Bryan Schorman, entering his second year


Key returners: Kosette Bartels, Lauren Teltow, and Liz Kocher


Losses to graduation: Ashley Halligan


Coach’s comment: We are young and inexperienced at some positions, but I am looking forward to seeing some of the talented underclassmen compete and finish games. We struggled last year finishing some games and I hope we can overcome some of the mental obstacles that prevented us from pulling out of some of those games with a “W”.


First game: Monday, Nov. 28 at Fraser (5:30 p.m.)



AROUND THE MAC


Marysville


2021-22 Season: 22-3 overall, 10-0 in the MAC-Gold. League, MAC Tournament, District, and Regional champions


League: MAC-Blue


Coach: Ryan Rathje, entering his 21st season


Key returners: Kara Miller, Meghan Winston, Avery Wolters, Ava Grant, Allison Fraley, Ryan Quain, and Addison Mynsberge


Losses to graduation: Kaitlyn Cain, Anna Oles, Madelyn Smith, Lauren Wilson, Sydney Hilgendorf, Gracie Fogarty, Addison Wallace, and Rae Pirie


Coach’s comment: We have moved up to a new league this year and we have a very tough schedule in store. Defense, rebounding, and timely shooting will be keys to our success.


First game: Tuesday, Nov. 29 at North Branch (7:30 p.m.)


Marine City


2021-22 Season: 16-5 overall, 8-2 in the MAC-Gold (2nd)


League: MAC-Gold


Coach: Jeff Austin, entering his 11th season


Key returners: Jade Blanchard, Josalyn Dietlin, Olivia Volkman, and Sydney Smith


Losses to graduation: Khloe Austin, Janie Ferrone, and Isabella Volkman


Coach’s comment: We only have two seniors, but a seasoned junior class so we should be very competitive.


First game: Wednesday, Nov. 30 v. Algonac (7 p.m.)


Port Huron


2021-22 Season: 14-8 overall, 6-4 in the MAC-Red (3rd)


League: MAC-Red


Coach: Stacie Maier, entering her first season


Key returners: Illiana Williams, Mashyla Hughes, Daija Brown, and Izzy Trombly


Losses to graduation: Julia Gilbert and Mia Jacobs


Coach’s comment: We are a young team with a lot of heart. I am excited to see how the girls come together and build for team success.


First game: Friday, Dec. 2 v. Chippewa Valley (7 p.m.)


Port Huron Northern


2021-22 Season: 6-15 overall, 1-9 in the MAC-Red (5th)


League: MAC-White


Coach: Ryan Rossi, entering his first season


Key returners: Kate Nichol, Shannon Fealko, and Charlotte Eastman


Losses to graduation: Jersey Mcgregor


Coach’s comment: We will be a young team but we are looking to compete and improve every day. They’re a great group of kids and all really excited about the upcoming season.


First game: Wednesday, Nov. 30 v. Yale (7 p.m.)


St. Clair


2021-22 Season: 12-9 overall, 6-4 in the MAC-Gold (3rd)


League: MAC-White


Coach: Darren Pietrykowski, entering his fourth season


Key returners: Erin Seros, Peyton Malcolm, and Ashlyn Zimmer


Losses to graduation: Skye Gottler and Paris Henderson

Coach’s comment: We will have depth. I have high expectations for this group of girls.


First game: Friday, Dec. 2 at New Haven (5 p.m.)


Who's your favorite to go all the way this season?

  • Algonac

  • Almont

  • Armada

  • Cros-Lex


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For in-game updates and other news, follow Calli on Twitter @ newberry_calli


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