David Brewster, Star Tribune
The White Bear Lake girls' basketball team knows repeating last year's 29-3 mark and Class 4A second-place finish will be no easy task.
With tryouts only beginning this past Monday and the first game slated for Nov. 26 in the Hamline Tournament against Hopkins, neither fifth-year head coach Jeremy Post nor junior Alexis Foley could go into great detail about the team's makeup this season. One thing they both could agree on: "We still have high expectations," Post said.
The Bears will be bigger and longer with the loss of key seniors and an influx of young talent. Roles need to be filled, and that will play itself out during the season.
Until then, Post has been engraving one key concept into the girls' heads since day one of his five-year tenure.
"We really preach 'team' around here," Post said.
None of that will change, as evidenced by the return of Foley, who led the team in assists, blocks and steals last year. She leads all returning players in scoring, averaging 11.9 points per game in the 2009-10 campaign.
"She can be the energy for our team and is an obvious leader," Post said.
Foley has worked hard to expand her game with the ability to play multiple positions offensively. She can handle the ball, post up and play pretty much any position the team needs her to play. Foley has been motivated by the whole team's work ethic this offseason. The players moved right into spring leagues, weight lifting, camps, open gyms — and it's all been contagious and encouraging, she said.
"When you see your teammates in there working hard day in and day out, it motivates you to do the same because you don't want to be the one who gives up on everyone else," said Foley, who will most likely be playing a lot of point guard this year. "The work we put in is what we'll get out of it."
Other key returning players include senior Sara Schoenthaler, who can guard all five positions and will hope to step up in a scoring role, as well. Rochelle Regnier also is expected to create matchup problems for opponents with her inside and outside play. Sam Guenther brings grit and a strong inside presence to round out a group of girls Post feels "fully encompasses the dynamics of the team."
The defending Suburban East champions — who finished with an immaculate 18-0 mark in conference play — may not be able to put up the same numbers as last season, but it won't be because of lack of effort.
"We have to be the first ones in the gym and the last ones out," Foley said. "The thing that sets us apart from everyone else is just how hard we work in practice, and the effort we're willing to put in that other teams might not be able to — or might not want to."
David Brewster, Star Tribune
David Brewster, Star Tribune