2017-18 Winter Preview: Wheatland Girls Basketball

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By Matt Turer — @MattTurer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

HEAD COACH: Jeremiah Bryan
2016-17 RECORD (PCL): 24-3 (5-2)
2016-17 POSTSEASON: SECTIONALS: Lost 63-54 to Leeton
GRADUATES: Ashley Horton (1,000+ career points)
RETURNING PLAYERS: Gracie Fatino (Sr., G, All-PCL 1st Team), Katlin Pickens (Sr., F), McKinsey Bryan (Sr., G), Madi Sutt (Jr., G/F, Class 1 All-State), Aleah Asare (So., G, All-PCL 2nd Team), Isabella Williams (So., F)
NEWCOMERS: Hannah Phillips (Sr.), McKyndal Calhoun (Sr.), Zaure Nurlan (Jr.), Kennedy Griffin (Fr.), Samantha Schultz (Fr.)

Wheatland broke its single-season wins record for the second consecutive season with 24 wins in 2016-17 and a second straight district title. But also for the second straight season, the Mules failed to get past sectionals—look for that to change this winter.

Ashley Horton (and her 1,000+ career points) may be gone, but Jeremiah Bryan is set to head up one of the most talented Class 1 rosters in southwest Missouri.

All-state selection Madi Sutt is back and only a junior. So are all-conference selections Gracie Fatino and Aleah Asare, a highly skilled freshman and several key role players from last year’s varsity roster.

“We expect to compete for a third straight district championship and push as far into the postseason as possible,” Bryan said. “Although last year was a very successful season, we definitely didn’t go as far as we would have liked and it left a bad taste in our mouths.”

The turnaround has come quickly with Mules having won 46 games the past two seasons after just 14 total in the previous four.

“This program has been an absolute blast to be a part of,” Bryan, entering his fourth year as head coach, said. “I knew coming into this that I would have a rough year or two before we started getting some serious talent moving up to high school. My expectations for this year are even bigger than any year in the past.”

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS

THE BIG 3 AND BEYOND

Madi Sutt (21.4 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2 SPG), Gracie Fatino (16.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 3 SPG) and Aleah Asare (11.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.2 SPG) are one tough trio to guard. Between them are one all-state selection (Sutt), three all-district selections and three all-conference selections.

“These three bring a type of threat that not many teams have,” Bryan said. “It’s hard to guard us at times since all three of these girls are a threat beyond the arch, and can drive and finish. When a team shuts down one or two of these girls, we can almost always look for the other one to step up and carry us on their backs.”

Katlin Pickens (3.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG), McKinsey Bryan (5.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG) and Isabella Williams also return from last year’s roster. Pickens is a four-year starter and Bryan called her last year’s most-improved player.

KEEPING AN EYE ON

Kennedy Griffin: Averaged 20 points per game in 8th grade and is expected to be an immediate threat.

Samantha Shultz (expected to see ‘serious minutes’ as a freshman), Hannah Phillips (a senior playing for the first time since her freshman year who has a chance to be a good post threat), McKyndal Calhoun (never played basketball but is very athletic), and Zaure Nurlan (a 5’10” foreign exchange student from Kazakhstan with potential to get playing time).

PINK AND WHITE

Wheatland will compete in the Pink and White Tournament this December in Springfield. Bryan said the invite was an honor and that it will be a huge test.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES

Jeremiah Bryan on conference play: “We have the toughest Class 1 conference in the state. I look for this year to be extremely exciting.”

Gracie Fatino on her expectations: “I believe this season is going to be one of the best yet. We have some tough competition this year but I feel like as a team we can work together to get past them.”

Madi Sutt on her expectations: “Although we aren’t big in size, I believe as long as we stay mentally strong and work together we can accomplish big things.”

Katlin Pickens on the tough schedule: “This should be a very good year for us. There will be very good competition so we’ll need to be ready for anything. We need to have fun and play our type of basketball.”

McKinsey Bryan on her senior year: “This is an amazing group of girls and I have enjoyed playing with them. I’m excited to be a part of this family one last time.”

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