Tosa East girls struggled to play full 32 minutes
Despite losing season, coach is optimistic
It was an extremely tough season for the Wauwatosa East girls basketball team as they finished just 4-19 overall and 2-12 in the Greater Metro Conference.
East's best stretch came during mid-December and early January, when they won three of five games after a 0-4 start. The Raiders defeated Milwaukee Washington, St. Scholastica and West Allis Hale by an average margin of victory of 13.7 points per game.
"I think that one thing all the players and coaches would agree on looking back over this past season is that if we were able ever able put a full 32 minutes together in a game we'd have more wins and feel a lot better about the season overall," Tosa East coach Rob Hamill said.
"With the exception of just a couple of games, we seemed to be able to execute the game plan and compete, but in one quarter we'd play poorly and dig too deep of a hole to come back from," he added.
Simpson a team leader
The Red Raiders were led by senior captain Talisha Simpson's 10 points per game and her competitive leadership.
"More often than not (she) had the mental toughness we need from all of our players and led by example," Hamill said.
Simpson is one of only two graduating seniors on this year's team, the only other being forward and captain Emily Ferger.
"Emily Ferger, too, had the quiet dedication and stick-to-itiveness that we need from all the players in our program," Hamill said. "She was our best defender and will leave big shoes to fill on the defensive end."
Junior point guard Cara Walls was the Red Raiders' top player.
"Cara Walls was our most steady player with a competitive streak second to none," Hamill said. "She had the endurance to play almost every minute of every game at a highly competitive level."
Some improvement seen
Despite the hardships, Hamill felt his team improved after each loss.
"As bad as I too often felt after a game in which we beat ourselves more than anything else, by the end of the next practice I always felt much better," Hamill said. "While it's not how we want to go about our business, I think it still says something positive about the group of players we had this season. They could have quit and they did not."
Next year, the Raiders will return a plethora of young players who might have had more playing time than normal this season because of a lack of seniors on the squad. That experience could prove to be beneficial next year.
Juniors on that list include star point guard Cara Walls (9.6 points), Cassie Osinski, Alexa Kramer, Yolanda Coleman, Carly Herald, Haley Nilsen, Danielle Shumpert and Amanda Quesnell. Sophomores Emily Jensen and Deniesha Kinnebrew also will return.
Hamill looks for his players to become much stronger both physically and mentally next year. He also wants them to compete with more intensity on a daily basis at practice.
"We had a strong JV group this season that I believe will really push the returning players for roster spots next year," Hamill said. "I think that will carry over throughout next season and make us much more intense during games."
E-mail Newsletter
Your link to the biggest stories in the suburbs delivered Thursday mornings.
Enter your e-mail address above and click "Sign Up Now!" to begin receiving your e-mail newsletter
Get the Newsletter!
More from Sports
- BOYS BASKETBALL Trojans' losing streak increases to 12
- East boys 'hit rock bottom' in 66-57 loss to Chargers
- Track and Field: Kilpin signs with Golden Eagles
- Trojans whip Tosa East girls
- SKY'S TAKE
- Tosa finishes second at conference meet
- Benz, Brovarney have third-place finishes
- GIRLS BASKETBALL Chargers beat Red Raiders
- GIRLS BASKETBALL First-place Packers beat Tosa West
- SKY'S TAKE
0 COMMENTS