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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