November 20, 2017 at 3:02 p.m.
Team preview: RHS girls' basketball
After graduating leading scorer Kostrova, Hodags expect more balance
Team preview: RHS girls' basketball
After graduating the top scorer and top rebounder from last year's team, the Hodags may need to break that mold to be successful this season.
"I'd like to see them be the team that executes well in the open floor, sees their teammates, creates a lot of scoring off our pressure and defense," Clark said following the team's scrimmage in Wisconsin Dells back on Nov. 11. "I think that will be our identity."
Rhinelander will begin to establish that identity tonight as it opens the season against Marshfield at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. The Hodags bring back three starters and six players overall from last year's nine-player varsity rotation, but have some major holes to fill.
Perhaps the biggest loss is swing player Kaly Kostrova, who averaged nearly 19 points per game in Great Northern Conference play for the Hodags, and was hands down the team's top scoring threat. Kostrova, like Sydnei Smith and Kylie Hunter before her, was the player who the Hodags' offense primarily ran through. Clark said, this year, he expects a more balanced offensive attack.
Senior guard Ally Seefeldt, who averaged 11.1 points per game in conference play during a breakout junior campaign, returns but the Hodags will have several scoring options this year, if the preseason scrimmage in the Dells is any indication.
Point guard Kenedy Van Zile is back for her sophomore season after averaging 3.0 points per game as a freshman, but she was the team's leading scorer with 42 points in the four-session scrimmage. Junior swing player Brooke Mork had 29, Seefeldt scored 26 and senior Maddie Meyer added 13 points.
"I've got a variety of kids who can contribute so I don't have to rely on one kid. We have enough players that can contribute," Clark said.
Some of that scoring will be done through the motion offense the Hodags have employed the past few seasons, but Clark hopes to generate more points in transition this season. The team began to press with more frequency during the second half of last season and finished second in the conference in steals. Clark said the pressure will increase this year.
"That will be our bread and butter. Pretty much 85 percent of the time we'll be pressing unless we meet a team that we physically can't stay with," he said. "I think we can play that style and we're pretty disciplined offensively. We won't necessarily be run-and-gun. I think we'll press and if we get steals we'll score in transition and if the defense gets back I think we'll be a pretty patient offensive team. We'll have nice balance."
Defensive-minded guard Alayna Franson rounds out the returning players in the Hodag backcourt.
Up front, the Hodags face a similar challenge looking to replace post player Ali Schickert, who averaged 5.3 points and 5.3 rebounds a game last season. The team is also without volleyball standout Hope Wissbroecker, who opted not to play this season.
Like the backcourt production, the frontcourt production will be handled by committee. Molly Wagler (1.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg) has the most experience up front. She'll be joined by fellow senior Lexie Rick and sophomore Erica Jorgensen.
Many of the Great Northern Conference's top teams are in the same boat as Rhinelander, replacing their top talent from a season ago. Only two of the 10 players on the GNC's first or second teams return. Clark said he still expects last year's top two teams - Lakeland and Medford - to be the favorites.
"A lot of people think that we're the team that could come up and bite some people, and finish third or fourth. If we can press and take care of the ball, I think we have a chance to be right there at the end," he said.
After tonight's opener, the Hodags will face Wausau East and Cadott over the weekend at the Tom Kislow Memorial Tournament in Wausau. Rhinelander opens GNC play Dec. 1 at Mosinee.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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