Putting up points

Girls varsity basketball faces Parkway North at Visitation on Dec. 22

Junior+Abbey+Ahola+sets+a+screen+so+senior+Lanie+Thompson+can+get+to+the+basket.

Ashlyn Brueckner

Junior Abbey Ahola sets a screen so senior Lanie Thompson can get to the basket.

Coach Thomas Williams is head coach for Parkway South for 18 years, he plans on having another great season. Currently this season, the team’s record is 3-3. Junior Linnea Johansen is averaging 11.3 points per game on the young season, and sophomore Grace Ellington is averaging 7.7 PPG. Senior Lani Thompson is leading the team offensively, scoring 16.7 points per game. 

“Our expectations are to compete in every game and to reach our potential for this year. One [goal] is to win conference, the next is to win district and the last one would be to get to the final 4,” Williams said. “I believe we have the pieces that we need, and can make a run to the final four this year with experience and youth and all the girls that we have contributing.”

Williams said he believes the team’s best strength is the height of the players, with four girls reaching the 6 foot marker. He also said the their weaknesses includes a lack of experience in some players, but Williams said he plans on improving that.

“By January we will be much more experienced and that will show,” Williams said.

Not only does the team’s experience apparently lack but also their health. Emily Shin, junior, and Alyssa Thomas, sophomore, have had concussions already this season, and Hannah Burjoski, senior, will not come back this season because of an injury.  

Burjoski is unable to play this season because of an injury to her ACL, which she injured during a preseason game. Despite losing possible scholarships she said she plans to cheer on the girls from the stands.

“I was pretty bummed out about it at the time. But I’ll cheer them on and be supportive,” Burjoski said.

Speaking of scholarships, team captain Lani Thompson is going to Rockhurst University for college next year. After reaching 1000 and counting points from her freshman through junior year, she plans to continue to play and succeed for her future basketball career. She also wishes for the team to have good season next year.

“I hope they win conference and go for district next year,” she said.

As team captain Thompson said she knows her teammates well, and tries to focus on their teamwork and improving their  weaknesses.

“I think we need to build up our confidence a lot, because we’re lacking in confidence. There’s times when we’ll get the the ball but miss our chance for a basket because we’re nervous but I think we’ll figure that out by the end of the season,” she said.

It is possible the girls’ lack of confidence and their overall nerves are due to the attention the girls’ team gets, which is minimal. According to junior Linnea Johansen the girls’ basketball team isn’t as popular as the boys’ basketball team and this is a controversial topic among the people involved with the girls varsity basketball.

“It makes me upset. The culture at South is awful because nobody goes to girls’ games,” Johansen said.

But Coach Williams has other views on the topic.

“I think we will get the attention that we deserve when we consistently win,” Williams said.

The energy from the crowd gives the girls more energy, said Laine Ritter, senior.

“The guy’s crowd is definitely bigger, that is to be expected, and I mean we would like bigger crowds at our bigger games like senior night and conference games,” said Ritter.

Ritter believes that for next year’s season, with four seniors leaving, some things need to be done.

“I think that someone will have to step up and put some points on the board to keep the team,” Ritter said.