New coach to lead Railer girls
A new coach will be leading the Newton High School girls’ basketball team into the 2020-21 season.
Tavis Leake II takes over from Kate Bremmerman, who stepped down to accepts an administrative position in the district.
A Sterling College grad, he coached eighth-grade boys and junior varsity boys at Newton, as well as freshman boys at Wichita Northwest.
He is assisted by John Hansberry (varsity assistant), Carley Childs (junior varsity) and Max Switzer (freshmen).
Newton was 1-19 last season, 1-11 in Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division I play.
Four starters return for the Railers — Alexis Epp (5-7, jr., P), Hayley Loewen (5-9, jr., F), Olivia Antonowich (5-6, so., G) and Lexi Valle-Ponds (5-5, sr., G).
Other returning letterwinners include Maylee Edwards (5-5, sr., G), Piper Seidl (5-5, so., G) and Gracie Hendrickson (5-5, so., G).
Looking to move up from the JV ranks include Camryn Entz (5-7, so., G), Kati Blaylock (5-9, sr., P) and Alexia Hernandez (5-8, G).
Marah Zenner (5-5, sr., G) returns to the team after taking last year off.
A top newcomer is Abigail Koontz (5-2, fr., G).
“This year will truly be a year of growth for the Lady Railers Basketball team,” Leake II said. “They are adapting very quickly to a new style of play. We understand everything our program gains will be earned and not given through our hard work daily. We plan on being scrappy on defense and patient/effective on offense.”
Leake II looks for Derby, newcomer Maize South and Maize to be among the top contenders in the AV-CTL I this season.
Top non-league opponents include Dodge City, McPherson and Valley Center.
Schedule
(subject to change)
Dec. 5 @ Dodge City (Dodge City Civic Center)
Dec. 8 @ McPherson
Dec. 10-12 @ GWAC-AV-CTL Challenge:
Boys TBA
Dec. 11 vs. Wichita North @ Wichita Heights (G 6 p.m.)
Dec. 15 Hutchinson
Dec. 18 Campus
Dec. 21 @ Maize South
Jan. 8 Valley Center
Jan. 12 Salina South
Jan. 15 @ Derby
Jan. 21-23 @ Dodge City TOC (B) TBA
Jan. 28-30 Newton Inv. (G) TBA
Feb. 2 @ Maize
Feb. 5 @ Hutchinson
Feb. 9 @ Campus
Feb. 12 Maize South
Feb. 16 Derby
Feb. 19 @ Salina South
Feb. 23 Salina Central
Feb. 26 Maize
March 2-6 Sub-State TBA
March 10-13 State @ White Auditorium, Emporia