ELYRIA LADY EAGLE HOOPSTERS FACE SEASON OF CHALLENGES

Only 3 Key Players Return

By Staff

ELYRIA – After three seasons of success it looks to be a challenge ahead for the Elyria Christian girls basketball program as they look at the upcoming 2023-24 season with just nine players out as practices began for the upcoming season, of which only three have solid varsity playing time.

Already having to replace nearly 27 points per game lost with graduates Ryland Hawkinson, Allie Stone, and Alexus Swenson, Lady Eagle head coach Greg Fields just recently was notified that the Reiff sisters, sophomore Laney and senior Macy, have chosen to concentrate on their running and not play basketball this season as well.

Both girls competed at the state cross country meet where Laney finished third and Macy finished twenty-fifth, plus playing varsity minutes in basketball last season.

“Both Laney and Macy were tough competitors who had quickness and endurance,” noted coach Fields. “With just nine players as we begin practices, this will be a year of opportunity for a lot of our younger players, including some incoming freshman.”

Among the three key returnees with varsity experience will be Julia Allen, a five-foot-six senior, Addison Swenson, a five-foot-six junior and Grace Prescott, a five-foot-three sophomore. The three combined to average 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game in 2022-23.

According to coach Fields, “Julia (Allen) brings a lot of energy and plays bigger than her size when on the court where she will be a valuable rebounder and defensive player who knows how to find teammates for easy shots. Grace (Prescott) brings tremendous speed to the court as she can get through defenses and distribute the ball efficiently while creating a lot of pressure on the opponent that leads to turnovers. Addison (Swenson) has become a valuable leader on the team where she has gained a lot of physical strength and will probably transition between being an outside shooter and an inside presence as well.”

While the coaches really like the leadership and team chemistry they have this season, they also know there will be more minutes available for some really talented younger players who are ready to step into a permanent varsity rotation position.

Coach Fields concluded his pre-season reflections by adding, “We will definitely be on the smaller side of the team I have coached in the past, but our overall speed is something I am very excited about. We will hopefully utilize our quickness to be disruptive enough on defense to create turnovers which should lead to transition points for us.”

Elyria opens the 2023-24 season in three weeks on Friday, December 1 on the road at Moundridge.

ELYRIA CHRISTIAN LADY EAGLE BASKETBALL

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW

COACH INFORMATION >

Head Coach > Greg Fields – 11th season as head coach; Overall record of 127-91.

Assistant Coach > Sarah Swenson

TEAM INFORMATION >

2022-23 = 16-5 overall; 8-1 in Wheat State League games; Lost (38-51) to Canton/Galva in Class 1A sub-state.

LADY EAGLE PLAYER INFORMATION >

Lady Eagles graduated > Ryland Hawkinson – 15.2 pts/g; Allie Stone – 8.7 pts/g; Alexus Swenson – 3.0 pts/g.

Lady Eagles Not Playing > Macy Reiff – 5’4” sr, 2.7 pts/g, 1.6 stls/g, 1.7 asst/g; Laney Reiff – 5’4 so.

KEY Lady Eagle Returnees > Julia Allen – 5’6” sr, 2.7 pts/g, 3.0 rebs/g, 2.3 stls/g, 1.8 asst/g; Addison Swenson – 5’6” jr, 1.8 pts/g, 1.0 stls/g; Grace Prescott – 5’3” so, 2.4 pts/g, 1.0 asst/g, 1.2 stls/g.

2023-24 LADY EAGLE SCHEDULE >

Friday, December 1 = at Moundridge

Monday, December 4 = at Goessel Bluebird Classic – at Hutchinson Central Christian

Friday, December 8 = at Goessel Bluebird Classic – at Goessel

Saturday, December 9 = at Goessel Bluebird Classic – TBD

Tuesday, December 12 = host Sedgwick

Friday, December 15 = at Solomon

Monday, December 18 = at Hutchinson Central Christian

Tuesday, December 19 = host Rural Vista

Friday, January 5 = at Canton/Galva

Tuesday, January 9 = host Peabody/Burns

Friday, January 12 = host Centre (Homecoming)

Tuesday, January 16 = at Centre Classic

Friday, January 19 = at Centre Classic

Saturday, January 20 = at Centre Classic

Tuesday, January 30 = host Wakefield

Friday, February 2 = at Herington

Tuesday, February 6 = at Goessel

Friday, February 9 = host Little River

Tuesday, February 13 = at Berean Academy

Friday, February 16 = host Marion (Senior Night)

Thursday, February 22 = Sub-State Quarter Finals, at TBD

Thursday, February 29 = Sub=State at TBD

Friday, March 1 = Sub-State at TBD

Saturday, March 2 = Sub-State at TBD

Wednesday, March 6 – Saturday, March 9 = State Class 1A Division II Tournament at Great Bend

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