Girls Basketball: Area girls ready to hit the hardwood

Cannon Falls Bombers

2011-12 Season: 3-24 overall, seventh in Hiawahta Valley League Blue Division at 1-11; lost to Pine Island 57-34 in first round of Section 1AA tournament.

Key Returners: Courtney Woodcock, Jr. C, 7.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg; Maggie Rutter, Jr. C, 2.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg

Key Losses: Natalie Reinardy, 7.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.2 apg; Ashley Banitt, 6.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.7 spg

Ellsworth Panthers

2011-12 Season: 4-19 overall, finished eighth in the Middle Border Conference with a 2-12 conference record. Lost 58-37 to Altoona in playoffs to end last season.

Key Returners: Ellsworth returns seven girls with varsity experience.

Key Losses: Lydia Kuhl, Halle Hatch and Abbey Ristow all logged significant minutes last season.

From Head Coach John Kleppe: “There are a lot of girls returning with experience. We’re deep. I have probably 10 girls where none is head and shoulders above the rest. I can easily get nine girls in the game and not lose anything on the court.”

Goodhue Wildcats

2011-12 Season: 23-6 overall, 2nd in Hiawatha Valley League Blue Division at 10-2; lost to Bethlehem Academy 57-51 in Section 1A West sub-section finals; ended regular season ranked second in Class 1A.

Key Returners: Mikayla Miller, Sr. G, 20.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.5 spg; Mikayla Tipcke, Jr. G, 7.6 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.0 spg.

Key Losses: Erica Tipcke, 3-time All-HVL, 2-time All-State first team

From Head Coach Josh Wieme: “We like to force the issue on defense and look to push it on offense. We’ll see if we’re able to do these things with our depth and lack of height.”

Lake City Tigers

2011-12 Season: 10-15 overall, fifth in Hiawatha Valley League Blue Division with 4-8 record; Lost in first round of Section 1AA-West tournament to Stewartville 54-47.

Key Returners: Taylor Koller, Sr. C, 12.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg

From Head Coach Candace Olstad: “Taylor Koller and Madi Green will be forces in the paint. And we’re looking for Breanna Gates to help run the offense and distribute the ball.”

Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars

2011-12 Season: 17-12 overall, third in Hiawatha Valley League Blue Division with 8-4 record; Cougars defeated Chatfield in Section 1AA finals 56-52; lost to Pequot Lakes in first round of Class 2A tournament 57-46.

Key Returners: Amber Jentsch, Sr. C, 8.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg; Laura Brunner, Sr. F, 9.4 ppg, 26 3-pointers

Key Losses: Ashley Hinsch, 15.8 ppg, 5 apg, 5.4 rpg

From Head Coach Scott Paukert: “We look to build on the success we had during last year’s tournament run. Our goal remains to be playing our best ball at the end of the season.”

Tags: girls basketball, sports, prep