All five starters gone for Lady Orioles on court
PAGE 10 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, November 27, 2013
by Hobby King SPORTS EDITOR
Losing all five starters to graduation, the 2013-2014 season for the second-year head coach Susie Vandevender could be a season of rebuilding at Concordia. Gone are four-year starter Hailee Langkrahr (16 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, three assists per game), Katlin Murray (11 PPG, 4.0 RPG), Kayla Brackman (7.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG), Staci Schlueter (4.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG) and Dakota Miller (7.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.0 SPG before being injured and out for the season after 13 games). Vandevender, who is being assisted by former CHS boys’ head coach Brent Cooper, does have some players back with experience on the varsity level. On that list are seniors Cassidy Brockman, Kayla Sinclair and Emily Blankenship. “Cassidy will play the Nos. 1 and 2 positions and handle the ball more than she did last year,” Vandevender said. “She is working on her ball handling , dribble-drives and shooting. Her big assets are her quickness and speed on defense. “Kayla is fast and smart out on the court. She is working on her shooting, both (from the) wings and three-pointers. “Emily is a good rebounder and is working on running the floor.” Also earning some valuable playing time last year are junior Kayla Stuart, sophomore Cailey Cooper and sophomore Ellison Brunkhorst. “Kayla is a very hard-working athlete who plays great defense, always giving 100 percent,” Vandevender said. “She does great communicating and talking on the court. “(Cailey) has a great shot and can handle the ball with her head up and look for teammates down the court. She also plays smart defense and gets several tips. “We are working with (Ellison) on posing up, asking for the ball and making a move to the basket. She also is working on her defensive positioning, jumping and rebounding skills.” Sophomores Mallory Scherer and Glo-
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Members of the 2013-14 Concordia Lady Orioles basketball team (from left) are: front, manager Johnna Toole, Laura Edwards, Mallory Scherer, Martha Cowherd, Megan Blake; middle, Kayla Stuart, Kayla Davis, Emily Blankenship, Cassidy Brockman, Kayla Sinclair, manager Samuel Jenkins; back, head coach Susie Vandevender, Cailey Cooper, Taylor Borgstadt, Ellison Brunkhorst, Mariah Rudy, Gloria Guier, Christa Curtis, assistant coach Brent Cooper.
ria Guier also will figure into the mix. “Mallory is quick and can cause many turnovers. She is working on her ball handling and shots from the wings,” Vandevender said. “Gloria is improving her defense and rebounding, working her at both guard and post. She has a great first step and drive to the basket.” Senior Taylor Borgstadt sat out last year, but has decided to play this year. “Taylor is strong and runs the court well,” Vandevender said. “She is working on learning my system and all of the new plays I have incorporated.” Sophomore Christa Curtis also could get some minutes. “She has improved her game so much, due mostly to her off-season work.” Vandevender said. Vandevender knows replacing five starters will be difficult. “We have to play together as a team and
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(get) all of the little things right,” she said. “The girls are going to have to work hard in practice and on their own time to better themselves on the fundamentals of the game. “We are going to have to use our aggressiveness to create turnovers and convert them into points.” The Lady Orioles have a roster that
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