INMAN LADY TEUTON BASKETBALL

SUTTYN TO LEAD LADY TEUTONS IN 2024-24

By Staff

            INMAN – After going 15-7 under a new coach in 2023/24, the Inman girls’ basketball program looks to be loaded for the upcoming 2024/25 season with hopes of making a run at a league title followed by a run at a state tournament berth.

            Matt Harris is back to lead the Lady Teutons program after guiding them to a 15-7 mark a year ago that included a third-place finish in the Heart of America League.

            The Lady Teutons lose three seniors to graduation in Kambrey Woods, Taelyn Friesen, and Madelyn Brunk, but return a plethora of talented underclassman including all-league, all-state junior Suttyn Harris.

            Harris, who already is signed to play Division I basketball at Utah, was the team leader a year ago as a sophomore as she averaged 16.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game while earning all-league and all-state honors.

            Adding to the future success of the Iman girls will be the return of a pair of junior starters in Morgan Froese and Kenna Woods. The pair combined to compliment Harris by scoring 17.2 points, and grabbing 12.2 rebounds per game between them, giving the Lady Teutons a powerful trio to build success around.

            Coach Harris pointed out that three returning letter winners, Taylor Froese, Raynee Eddy, and Ellie Thimmesch came off the bench to pitch in with 9.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as just freshman.

            Also returning with varsity playing time experience include juniors Abigail Siemens and Allison Schrag along with the lone senior on the roster in Katie Nichols.

            When speaking about the goals for the upcoming season, coach Harris explained, “Our goal is to win the league and improve during the season in hopes of making a run later in the season. We want to optimize everyone’s individual talent to make us the best possible team. We want to be a balanced team that plays fast.”

            Among the newcomers the coaches have noted as having good prospects of getting some varsity time on the court are junior Ella Tatro, sophomore Leah Black, and freshmen Maddie Parsons and Olivia Brunk.

            Coach Harris concluded his pre-season reflections by saying, “I think our key to success is getting all the newcomers and starters comfortable with their roles on the team. Understanding our strengths and playing to them while being able to use our depth to wear teams out and using our length to frustrate our opponents as well.

            The Lady Teutons will open the 2024/25 season on Friday, December 6 on the road at Minneapolis before playing in the Moundridge Early Season Tournament where they will tangle with county rival Moundridge on Tuesday, December 10, battle Hillsboro on Thursday, December 12 and finish off with Lyons on Friday, December 13.

            Inman will conclude their pre-holiday schedule with a pair of home games, hosting Kingman on Tuesday, December 17 and Centre on Friday, December 20.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)