Wildcat girls shoot for improvement

MOUNDRIDGE — With four starters back, the Moundridge High School girls’ basketball team will look for improvement this season.

Vicky Kessler begins her sixth season as the Wildcat head coach. She is 92-28 at Moundridge. She is assisted by Lynn Eichelberger.

The Wildcats were 10-11 last season, 5-4 in the Heart of America League. Moundridge was edged by Ellinwood 56-54 in the first round of sub-state play.

Returning starters include Erin Durst (5-4, sr., 8 ppg, 3 apg) Kourtney, Kaufman (5-9, sr., 10 ppg, 7 rpg), Kenzie Elmore (5-5, SR, 3 ppg, 4 rpg) and Kate Eichelberger (6-0, Jr, 11 ppg, 10 rpg).

Eichelberger and Kaufman were both first-team All-HOAL selections. Durst was an All-HOAL honorable mention.

Other varsity candidates include Alea Durst (5-4, sr.), Myiah Logue (5-7, sr.), Emma Blough (5-7, jr.), Emily Durst (5-1, so.) and Kindall Elmore (5-4, so.).

“The Lady Cat’s schedule will be tough again this year, so the team will need to be ready to play day in and day out,” Kessler said. “We have a nucleus of starters back from last season and a good core of underclassman ready to compete for some playing time. Kate Eichelberger and Kourtney Kaufman led in scoring last year, and I expect to see others step up and add to this duo. I am excited about the possibilities and am eager to see what this team will achieve with courage, commitment, and communication. Our pre-season tournament always hosts strong competition, along with our HOA league competitors, and a solid mid-season tournament at Haven.”

Kessler called Sterling, Berean Academy, Inman and Bennington the top contenders in the HOAL this season. Other top teams the Wildcats will face this season include Garden Plain, Halstead and Hillsboro.

Schedule

(subject to change)

Dec. 4 Elyria Christian

Dec. 8 Hillsboro (G 7 p.m., B 8:30 p.m.)

Dec. 10 Inman (G 7 p.m., B 8:30 p.m.)

Dec. 11 Lyons (G 7 p.m., B 8:30 p.m.)

Dec. 15 @ Little River

Dec. 17 Wichita Independent (G 7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 18 @ Chaparral (B 7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 5 Oxford

Jan. 8 Marion

Jan. 12 @ Bennington

Jan. 15 @ Hutchinson Trinity

Jan. 19-22 @ Canton-Galva Inv. (B) TBA

Jan. 22 @ Goessel (G 6 p.m.)

Jan. 28-30 @ Haven Inv. (G) TBA

Jan. 29 Goessel (B 6 p.m.)

Feb. 2 Sterling

Feb. 5 @ Inman

Feb. 12 Remington

Feb. 16 Sedgwick

Feb. 19 @ Berean Academy

March 1-6 Sub-State TBA

March 10-13 State @ Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan TBA