LITTLE RIVER GIRLS AIM FOR STATE TITLE

writingwithwilldur
Nov 24, 2023
3 min read

Returns Entire Team

By Staff

LITTLE RIVER – After finishing the 2022-23 season ranked number one before losing in an upset at sub-state, the Little River girls basketball team returns the entire roster for a new season of expectations and coaching.

The sting still hurts from last season when the Lady Redskins finished unbeaten in Wheat State League action, carried a 19-1 record and number one ranking in Class 1A Division I into a sub-state final with St. John/Hudson who pulled the upset of the season with a five-point, 43-38 win over Little River.

With the majority of the team coming off a recent second straight state volleyball championship, Little River begins the task of regaining the edge they had most of last season, only this season with a new coach.

Brent Clark is gone, and the Lady Redskins are now under the guidance of Cy Rolfs, who does have six years of head coaching experience though this will be his first with the Little River girls.

What coach Rolfs does have is the luxury of a core unit made up of four seniors and four sophomores who return after combining to average 53.4 points, 24.8 rebounds, 11.5 steals, and 10.7 assists per game last season.

Leading the lineup will be a pair of seniors, in two-all-state honorees Alaina Eck and Aubrey Olander. Eck is closing in on 1,000 points in her career after leading the team in scoring at 17.0 points per game. Olander has surpassed the mark of 500 rebounds in her career and like Eck is nearing the 1,000 career points mark as well. In 2022-23, Olander averaged 10.0 rebounds and 14.5 points per game.

Others projected to start by the new coaching staff will be senior Ashley Stephenson, and sophomore’s Havana Olander and Adelynne Strecker.

Senior Kate Ellwood and sophomore’s Arika Feldman and Evie Look will work a rotation off the bench according to the coaches while a freshman, Saelyn Raleigh is one whom they say to watch as she is a quality player who will gain varsity playing time quicker than many expect.

The Little River girls look to begin another run at a state title on Friday, December 1 on the road at Lincoln before playing in the Goessel Bluebird Tournament the first full week of December. The Lady Redskins only play one home game before the Christmas holiday break and that will be on Friday, December 15 when they host Wakefield.

LITTLE RIVER LADY REDSKIN BASKETBALL

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW

LADY REDSKIN COACH INFORMATION >

Head Coach > Cy Rolfs = 1st year – has 6 seasons of head coaching experience.

LADY REDSKIN TEAM INFORMATION >

2022-23 > 19-2 overall – 9-0 Wheat State League – Lost to St. John/Hudson (38-43) in Class 1A Division I sub-state.

LADY REDSKIN PLAYER INFORMATION >

Projected Starters >

Seniors > Alaina Eck – 5’5” sr. – 17.0 pts/g – 1.3 rebs/g – 2.2 asst/g – 3.2 stls/g; Aubrey Olander – 6’1” sr. – 14.5 pts/g – 10.0 rebs/g – 1.0 asst/g – 1.7 stls/g – 1.8 blks/g; Ashley Stephenson – 5’8’ sr. – 2.5 pts/g – 2.0 rebs/g – 1.5 asst/g – 1.1 stls/g.

Sophomores > Havana Olander – 5’8” soph. – 5.7 pts/g – 4.0 rebs/g – 2.0 asst/g – 2.0 stls/g; Adelynne Strecker – 5’5” soph. – 3.2 pts/g – 2.3 rebs/g – 3.0 asst/g – 2.6 stls/g.

Other Key Returnees > Kate Ellwood – 5’5” sr. – 2.5 pts/g; Arika Feldman – 6’1” soph. – 4.7 pts/g – 3.2 rebs/g – 1.0 blks/g; Evie Look – 5’7” soph. – 3.8 pts/g – 2.0 rebs/g – 1.0 asst/g – 1.0 stls/g.

Newcomers to Watch > Saelyn Raleigh – freshman.

2023-24 LADY REDSKIN SCHEDULE >

Friday, December 1 > at Lincoln

Tuesday, December 5 > at Goessel Bluebird Tournament, vs. Burrton

Friday, December 8 > at Goessel Bluebird Tournament, vs. Canton/Galva

Saturday, December 9 > at Goessel Bluebird Tournament, vs. TBD

Tuesday, December 12 > at Moundridge

Friday, December 15 > hosting Wakefield

Tuesday, December 19 > at Herington

Friday, January 5 > at Peabody/Burns

Tuesday, January 9 > hosting Goessel

Friday, January 12 > hosting Rural Vista