by Ben Murphy
Sports Writer
The McBain girls basketball team had yet another great season last winter. The Lady Ramblers went 20-4 overall and won the Highland Conference championship and district titles. They’ll have a good cast of players returning as they look for a repeat performance; and they’ll be guided by veteran coach Bruce Koopman. Koopman, the long time coach of the boys’ program will pull double duty and coach both teams this winter.
“We return five seniors who are coming off a great season winning 20 games a year ago, a conference championship and district championship before losing in the regional finals,” Koopman said. “Experience, basketball IQ, size, quickness and versatility are all strengths of this year’s team. They have been well coached in the past so the fundamentals are solid and they know the X’s and O’s as well.”
Seniors Kahli Heuker (guard, forward), Sydney Heuker (guard, forward), Adyson Nederhood (center, forward), Analeise Fredin (point guard, shooting guard) and Caitlin Butzin (point guard, shooting guard) all return to the line-up.
New to the team will be juniors Brecken Gilde (guard, forward), Alaina Eisenag (guard, shooting guard), Makenzie Zuiderveen (forward, center) and sophomore Isabel Rozeveld (forward, center). Junior Kate Krick is also in the program, but can not play this season due to the transfer rule.
“We will be working on everything that includes individual fundamentals, team offense and defense, rebounding, etc,” Koopman said. “The girls have a great work ethic, have been positive and are very coachable. The success of this team will be defined by working hard with a commitment to improve each practice and game with goal to win championships along the way.”
McBain won an early season home game on Tuesday, 53-37 over Kingsley.
The Ramblers led the game 26-8 after the first quarter, 37-11 at the half and 48-20 with just the fourth to play.
Leading the way was S. Heuker with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and four steals, K. Heuker had 13 points and seven rebounds, Fredin added 11 points and three assists and Butzin added two points, four rebounds and five assists.
On Saturday, McBain lost in the championship game of its home tournament to Escanaba, on a score of 50-42.
The Ramblers were able to hold a 23-16 lead at the half and led 34-23 in the third, before Escanaba trimmed that to 36-30 entering the fourth. McBain couldn’t hold them off in the closing minutes however.
Leading the way was K. Heuker with 13 points and 10 rebounds and S. Heuker added nine points.
On Friday, McBain opened the season with a 52-33 home win over New Lothrup in the opening round of the tournament.
The Ramblers were able to lead this one wire-to-wire, with margins of 16-2 after the first and 30-12 entering the half.
Helping the team in the win was K. Heuker with 17 points and seven rebounds, Fredin had eight points, six assists and three rebounds, Grant poured in eight points and S. Heuker was able to net seven.
McBain (2-1 overall) hosts Manton today (Friday) and heads to Beal City for its Highland Conference opener on Wednesday.