WINTER SPORTS 2016: PAGE 7A PRESS & DAKOTAN ? VERMILLION PLAIN TALK Back To Work The Crofton girls celebrate afte winning the Nebraska State Class C2 Basketball Tournament this past March. Crofton has won five consecutive state titles, and has played for the C2 championship for six straight seasons. Crofton has won eight titles since 2005. Crofton Girls Ready To Go After Winning Fifth Straight Title games, but they can play better basketball because of what those two can do,” Losing said. “They’ll be able to help our kids that are not CROFTON, Neb. — When you’ve as experienced.” hoisted championship trophies at Crofton also brings back seniors the end of every season, wouldn’t Lauren Steffen (5 ppg, 2.5 rpg), it be difficult to have always start Mariah Dendinger and Sam Altwine. from the beginning? It will also turn to juniors Haley Not really, as Aaron Losing Arens (2.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg), Madison would tell you. Kube, Hannah Steffen and Lauren No, his players on the Crofton Arens. girls’ basketball team remain motiThe sophomore class includes vated each season to make another Josie Sanger (2.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg), run at a state title — which, for the Aubree Potts, Hannah Van Heek, Lady Warriors, has become a comDanielle Steffen and Sydney Tramp. mon occurrence. A group of six newcomers includes “If anything, our kids come into senior Shelby Oetken and five fresheach year hungry to prove themmen (Alexis Arens, Elyssa Tramp, selves again,” said Losing, who Ryah Ostermeyer, Keirra Vornhaenters his 13th season in Crofton. gen, Taylor Arens). “They know that it’s the beginAs has been during its string of ning of something,” he added. championship runs, the developAnd typically that means a ment of role players is again a key championship for Crofton. for the Lady Warriors, according to Losing’s program has won eight Losing. state titles in his 12 seasons, includ“In the past 4-5 years, we’ve had ing five in a row. That means the role players that knew what their seniors — there are six in all — on role was from the beginning of the this season’s roster have known year, even from the summer,” he nothing but success. said. “This year we’ll be more of a “Certainly for seniors, they’re in work in progress.” that position where this is their last Whether or not that means go around,” Losing said. “They want Crofton may need some time to iron to make the most of it.” things out remains to be seen. Getting to the point of contend“We might not be as sharp at the ing for a championship, though, beginning, but that’s OK,” Losing requires hard work in November said. “We’ll get there, I have a feeland December. And the Lady Warriors are well aware of that chalMonica Arens cuts down the net after the 2016 championship. Arens and the other five seniors have ended ing.” And while it’s still too early to lenge, according to Losing — even each of their previous three seasons by cutting down the nets at state. be talking about championships, when a handful of players were on Crofton can, however, join an elite the volleyball team that once again understand that. in the state: Senior post Monica game last season. In her career, she list if it wins again next March. reached the state tournament. “They know that there will be Arens and senior guard Kelsey has recorded 744 points, 302 reOnly two schools in Nebraska In other words, winning in March learning curves and will be lots of Sanger. bounds, 409 assists and 278 steals. history have won six straight girls’ is due to work done in November. * Arens, a University of South “We expect them to make a lot basketball titles: (Sandy Creek from Or, as Losing put it, it’s because things to work on.” And the Lady Warriors certainly Dakota recruit, averaged 18 points of things happen,” Losing said. 1996-2001 and South Sioux City from of all those drills done when noand 6.7 rebounds per game last “They’re the foundation of our 2000-05). body else is watching — not always have some things to work on. For starters, they graduated season. For her career, she boasts team.” during those 25-30 games. And like any star players, they Follow @jhoeck on Twitter “Realistically the most important three starters, which means others 1,116 points and 40 rebounds. * Sanger, a Nebraska-Kearney make everyone around them better are those 50-60 practices you have,” will have to take on increased roles this season. But the two starters recruit, averaged 11.3 points, 4.1 as well, he added. he said. “That’s where you get bet“Other people can have good ter day in and day out, and our kids Crofton returns are among the best rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals per BY JEREMY HOECK jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net SOUTH DAKOTA GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Alcester-Hudson COACH: Shannon Hames ASSISTANT: Matt Storo VITALS: Class B, District 10B, Tri-Valley Conference LAST YEAR: The Cubs finished last year with a record of 7-15. They graduated one player. RETURNING: Kassidy Walth (Sr., 5-9, G/F, 13 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2nd team all-conference), Amelia Stene (Jr., 5-8, F, 5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Julie Dickau (Jr., 5-10, F, 5.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg), Kendra Jensen (So., 5-8, G, 6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, honorable mention allconference), Karlee Nygard (Jr., 5-7, G, 1 ppg, 0.9 rpg), Sara Kemner (So., 5-8, F, 1.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg), Elizabeth Hallaway (Fr., 5-8, G/F, 0.6 ppg, 0.8 rpg), Elena Waite (So., 5-6, G, 0.1 ppg, 0.6 rpg), Wynot Keandra Rhead (So., 5-10, F, 0.5 ppg, 1.1 rpg) NEWCOMERS: Kara Weedle (Jr., 5-4, G), Callie Waite (Fr., 5-5, G), Tori Rasmussen (So., 5-10, F), Alyssa Keiser (8th, 5-5, F), Emily Miller (8th, 5-5, G), Bayleigh Peterson (8th, 5-5, G), Emily Wanderfeen (8th, 5-7, F), Abby Walth (8th, 5-6, G/F). Andes CentralDakota Christian COACH: Shane Miewenhuis VITALS: Class B, District 11B, Little Missouri Conference, South Central Conference. LAST YEAR: AC/DC finished last season 13-7. S.D. GIRLS | PAGE 8A Amelia Stene, Alcester-Hudson that just means there’s more big-game/big-match experience from which to pull during the course of basketball FROM PAGE 6A season. So, the question becomes: little flat, but they really came Can a program that has won in fired up,” he said. “That’s six state titles since 2005 really helped us.” keep things rolling? And for the Blue Devils, “I sure hope so,” coach Wieseler said. “We have some good experience back, and they work hard,” he added. “So they should be right with some of our past teams.” Follow @jhoeck on Twitter