Warriors return only one starter
Last year the Brainerd Warriors girls' basketball team returned four starters and finished as the Section 8-4A runner-up.
This season it might take a while for the Warriors to regain that level of play as one starter (Emily Thesing) and several reserves are the only experience Brainerd returns.
"We're going to have to make sure we have a pretty good foundation first," Warriors coach Carl Hendrickson said. "In order for us to do that we're going to have to be positive with this group so they can gain some confidence and help build on our lack of experience. Then we might need to play harder than we've ever played to get better as a team.
"We will probably have to distribute the ball around, not rely on Emily to do all the scoring. I think we have potential to do that, not only with our post players, but a few of our perimeter players. We're going to have to have that inside-outside combination if we're going to be successful."
Emily Thesing protected the ball against a St. Cloud Tech player in the Section 8-4A championship game March 7. Thesing led Brainerd in scoring and was an all-conference player.
Brainerd Dispatch
Thesing, a member of the Brainerd Dispatch All-Area team, earned All-Central Lakes Conference honors, averaging 12.8 points after starting all but one game. She shot 46.3 percent from the field, 31.2 percent from 3-point range, 72.2 percent from the free-throw line. She also averaged 3.9 rebounds, dished out 93 assists and collected 72 steals.
"Emily has had the bulk of leadership on her shoulders already this year," Hendrickson said. "She's our only captain, our only returning starter. Obviously, she's going to get a lot of attention because she did lead us in scoring and was kind of the player who carried us down the stretch last year. We will build around her."
Those back who played extensively include 6-foot junior Tess Rahto (3.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 5-10 senior Nikker Graumann (1.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg), 5-8 senior Sara Parsons (0.1 ppg, 0.8 rpg) and 6-foot senior Kylie Stanfield (1.3 ppg, 0.9 rpg).
Girls' basketball
Head coach: Carl Hendrickson, 12th season.
2007-08 Brainerd record: 13-5 CLC, 20-8 overall.
Career record: 147-133 (.525)
Returning starter: Emily Thesing.
Assistant coaches: Ron Gilbertson, Troy Nelson
Schedule
DECEMBER
2: at Alexandria, 7:30 p.m.
5: at Sauk Rapids-Rice, 7:30 p.m.
9: MOORHEAD, 7:30 p.m.
11: WILLMAR, 7:30 p.m.
16: at St. Cloud Apollo, 7:30 p.m.
19: ROCORI, 7:30 p.m.
JANUARY
2: TOTINO-GRACE 2:30 p.m.
6: at Fergus Falls, 7:30 p.m.
9: SARTELL, 7:30 p.m.
13: at St. Cloud Tech, 7:30 p.m.
15: LITTLE FALLS, 7:30 p.m.
17: LAKEVILLE NORTH, 1 p.m.
20: at Bemidji, 7:30 p.m.
23: ALEXANDRIA, 7:30 p.m.
27: at Moorhead, 7:30 p.m.
29: SAUK RAPIDS, 7:30 p .m.
31: at Willmar, 7:30 p.m.
FEBRUARY
3: ST. CLOUD APOLLO, 7:30 p.m.
7: at Rocori, 1:30 p.m.
10: GRAND RAPIDS, 7;30 p.m.
12: FERGUS FALLS, 7:30 p.m.
17: at Sartell, 7:30 p.m.
20: at Little Falls, 7:30 p.m.
26: ST. CLOUD TECH, 7:30 p .m.
Others who played include sophomore junior Alex Sauer (17 games), sophomore Emilee Branum (9) and freshman KB Capers (6).
"We've just been evaluating every day because there's a big group of kids who are kind of all together," Hendrickson said. "All of them have a lot of the same skills. Nobody has stepped forward and said, I want that spot,' but everyone is working hard. We just don't have one person who has jumped out at us.
"KB is working real hard. She has matured a lot from last year. She wants a piece of the action on the floor right away with the first five. She's been a bright spot so far. She just has to continue to work at that."
The Warriors are scheduled to open Tuesday at highly regarded Alexandria. The Cardinals are led by 6-foot junior Angela Christianson, who scored 54 points in a section tournament game. Last season, she averaged 26.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks per game.
"Alexandria is always a tough place to play," Hendrickson said. "That's a pretty good challenge right out of the blocks. We have Moorhead the following Tuesday and Sauk Rapids the next Friday. We're going to have to get experience early to compete."
Warriors roster
Seniors: Nikker Graumann (5-10), Bethany Luckemeyer (5-8), Sara Parsons (5-4), Kylie Stanfield (6-0)
Juniors: Kinzie Hradsky (5-10), Jackie Maybon (5-6), Tess Rahto (6-0), Alex Sauer (5-8), Katie Southard (5-8)
Sophomores: Emilee Branum (5-8), Ally Mueller (5-10)
Freshman: KB Capers (6-0), Kayla Kraemer (5-5)
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.