The Valders Vikings girls’ basketball team has many reasons to be optimistic.
They expect great things when they tip off their campaign Tuesday night at Sheboygan Lutheran against The Crusaders.
The Vikings went 21 and 5 a year ago, finishing runners-up to Sheboygan Falls in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference.
They captured a regional championship with a pair of thrilling one-point victories over Mishicot and Kewaunee, the latter going into overtime.
Their season ended in the Division Four Sectional semifinals, ironically against The Crusaders.
Head Coach Eric Otto returns everybody except Claire Zipperer and Andie Taylor. He tells Seehafer Sports they’ll be tough to replace.
“You can’t replace Claire Zipperer with her six-foot frame and wingspan she has. The things she did defensively with rebounding and altering and blocking shots will be sorely missed.” Otto adds-
“Andie Taylor was just a hard-nosed, scrappy defender. She wore out the opposition’s best player by just sticking to her. They’ll both be hard to replace.”
Junior Megan Hochkammer led The EWC in assists last season and was fifth in scoring returns. Also back are juniors Zoey Siders, who shot better than 33 percent from the 3-ball last season.
Audrey Wagner, Anna Olson, and senior Arianna Hernandez also return. Hernandez has been the anchor of a solid bench. Hochkammer says it’s great to have so many talented and familiar faces returning.
“Being in a small school, we all play multiple sports together. We go to class and eat lunch together. It’s great to do everything together, and we’ve all become friends on and off the court.”
Siders shot better than 33 percent from the 3-ball last season and feels she can improve upon that number.
“I’m way more confident with the support I receive from the fans and my teammates. I’ve worked hard this summer playing AAU ball, and I feel it’ll pay off.”
Wagner is entering her third year on varsity. She says she has put in a lot of work this offseason to improve her game.
“Doing more form shooting, working on hip and ankle mobility, and with the stuff I’ve been working on, I hope to be quicker on my drives.”
The Vikings will need Olson to expand her role from last year.
“I’ve been working hard on the perimeter and in the post. I’m happy I’ve been allowed to contribute to this team’s success this year.”
Hernandez is the lone senior on this year’s team. She says she is ready to take on the additional responsibilities to help the Vikings succeed.
“I’ve felt I’ve stepped my leadership role. I know that I must continue doing all the little things (rebounding, getting loose balls, steals), but I must also look to score more.”
Entering his seventh year, Otto says he’s been blessed to coach a lot of great young ladies, and this group is no different. The message he has for them and all his previous teams is always—
“Have no regrets. All I ask is that you give 100 percent effort and play your absolute best, regardless of score and outcome, if you’ve done that individually and we’ve done that as a team. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The Vikings open the season Tuesday night at Sheboygan Lutheran against The Crusaders. Coverage on 107.9 FM WOMT and womtradio.com begins at 5:45 p.m.
