Coach Dee Dee Epemma enters her third season as coach of the Montevideo Thunderhawks and this season looks like one her players are very much looking forward to.

Finishing at 18-5 last season and returning a very good core of athletes with some nice height on the side could prove to be an advantage as the season plays out.

The lone returning starter is 5’10 junior Morgan Reidinger who also spends a lot of time working on her game in the summer as part of the North Tartan program. She’ll be joined by four others who are 5’11 or taller: Nikki Erickson, Natalie Fehldick, Lexi Quigley, & Alexis Schmidts.

Guard play is going to be key as the T’Hawks lost their starting point guard to graduation, thus a new floor general will be needed. Kailey Maroney, Abby Olson, and Erin Balkan are a few of the guards who’ll be asked to help direct the show.

The Sauk Centre program is always a tough out in the West Central Conference and they’ll again be one of the top teams to play and gauge improvement. Minnewaska Area will also be one of the top WCC teams along with the T’Hawks.

Section play, this team has an opportunity to get through to the state tourney. Defending champ Redwood Valley returns a lot of kids, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton and Minnesota Valley Lutheran are also squads with potential to take the crown.

Experience is a plus this season in Montevideo, many of players on the roster have had individual success in the scoring column last year, so that is a plus. Getting the guard situation squared away as quick as possible, especially at the point will benefit the squad favorably.

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