The Appleton North Girls’ Basketball team has a state championship on its mind as they enter the 2016-17 girl’s basketball season.
Last year, the Lady Lightning were ousted in the WIAA state semi-finals, but don’t let that sit in your head too long, as these ladies are focused on what is ahead this season.
“We are focused on getting better, and merging all of our talents into one,” Head Coach Joe Russom said. “We also have depth, and we expect players to come off the bench and make a huge impact for us this season.”
Not only has the Lady Lightning become a more balanced team, individually, many players have focused on making themselves more unpredictable. This includes star point guard, Kari Brekke, who said, “I’ve been working to become quicker, stronger, and to have a quicker release while shooting the ball. I want to be a threat in more ways than one on the court.”
When asked about their hopes for the upcoming season, both Brekke and Russom expect a deep run in the state playoffs, and they both hope for a state title this season. However, they will be taking this season one game at a time, as they don’t want to get ahead of themselves.
Every team needs a few impact players to make a difference in games. When asked about who those players might be, Russom said, “Anyone on any given night can break out. We have some key players coming back from injuries, like Sydney Levy. She’s looking to make a huge impact. Kylie Beecher, Anna Laux, and Callie Pohlman are looking to make a huge impact this season as well.”