Lady Panthers gunning for RVC title
By Mark Johnson
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mjohnson@morrisdailyherald.com
Gardner-South Wilmington has two independent River Valley Conference varsity girls basketball championships which it will be looking to defend during the 2009-10 season, which starts Monday.
In 2008-09, the Lady Panthers went 4-1 during RVC regular season play, earning a share of the conference championship. They then claimed the outright championship in the annual RVC tournament. There is no RVC tournament this year, though the Lady Panthers will host a GSW Classic late in the season.
Angie Tjelle has led the Lady Panthers to a 42-23 conference record in her seven years as varsity GSW coach. She thinks that the Lady Panthers should again be a favorite to win the conference, though they will be challenged by St. Anne and Beecher.
"The team is looking forward to another season with a winning record," said Tjelle. "Our goal is to be the team to beat in the RVC conference. With a full schedule, we are looking forward to [competing] for wins against all area teams."
While the other RVC teams will be gunning for the Lady Panthers this year, they enter the season with the confidence of being the defending champion.
"I think it's a good thing, because it gives us an attitude and makes us want to do it more, so we can get it two years in a row," said senior Rachel Mack. "Us having more experience is helping out a lot already."
Four returning lettermen are among the five seniors on the Lady Panthers roster. They are Amber Eisha, Missy Gretz, Kelsey Lutz and Mack. Two juniors, Kellie Tyler and Allison Serena, also earned varsity letters in 2008-09. The six returning letter winners are fighting for five starting spots heading into the year.
"Our returning lettermen will provide us a solid foundation to focus upon," said Tjelle. "Amber, Missy and Kelsey will be entering their third year with varsity experience, and Rachel will be entering her fourth."
Mack made the Morris Daily Herald All-Area first team as a forward in 2009 after she averaged 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game as a junior. She was a first-team All-RVC selection.
"I hope win about 20 games and do better than we did last year," said Mack. "If we play as a team, we can do it. ... Individually I'm hoping to be able to advance to the college level."
Eisha was chosen for the MDH All-Area fourth team as a center and was special mention All-RVC in 2009. She is coming off a season during which she averaged 10.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Lutz was an MDH All-Area honorable mention player after she made 28 3-point field goals as a junior guard.
"Once again, our team will be focusing on the ability for us to play at a high level of intensity, using our quickness to our advantage," said Tjelle.
Eva Clow is the lone senior on the GSW roster that did not earn a varsity letter a season ago. Courtney Gallup, a junior, is also a newcomer to the varsity, as are three sophomores, Katie Gretz, Hailey Residori and Kailyn Schultz.
"Depth will be once again a challenge for us," said Tjelle. "We will look to our seniors to help the younger players transition to the varsity level. Offensively, the team is strong. We will need to work hard this year on defense and allow it to feed our offense."
GSW will unofficially begin the season Saturday evening when it holds its annual Orange and Black Night. After its season opener Monday, it will participate in the Lexington Holiday Classic from Nov. 19-24.
After that, the Lady Panthers are off until Dec. 4, when they have their RVC opener at Illinois Lutheran. Three regular-season games, all on the road, will follow before they participate in the Raider Holiday Tournament Dec. 12-16. Their home opener — following 12 games on the road — is Dec. 18 versus Grant Park.
"That's the way high school works," said Tjelle. "We alternate. Two years ago, it was the same way. Those opening tournaments throw things off, so every other year, we start off on the road like that. I think it can be a good thing. It has its plusses and its negatives. In the second half of the season, we'll be home a lot, and that's when we'll be coming down the stretch and really seeing where we're at."
Schedule highlights in 2010 include a game at Dwight Jan. 9, a home game with Morris Jan. 13, a home game with Reed-Custer Jan. 23 and the GSW Classic, which will last from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4.
"Basically it's the same [as the RVC Tournament]," said Tjelle. "They wanted to do something a little bit different, but it's the same teams. Now we're doing a round robin."
Last season, the Lady Panthers finished with an overall record of 18-13. They were defeated in the semifinal round of the IHSA Class 1A Dwight Regional by Roanoke-Benson. They are 93-83 under Tjelle.
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