By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Springfield Catholic enjoyed another successful girls basketball campaign last season.
The Fightin’ Irish finished with a record of 17-11, falling to eventual Class 3 state champion Fair Grove in the district title game.
“Out of our 11 losses, six were to teams that went to the final four, and three won the state championship in their class (Chadwick, Fair Grove and Marshfield),” Head Coach Mike Foley said.
After losing six seniors to graduation, Catholic will look to its lone returning starter this season for experience and leadership in Alice Farmer.
Farmer, a 5-foot-8 senior, averaged 6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest as a junior.
Foley on Farmer: “Very good outside shooter (is a four-year starter). Her numbers will increase significantly this season as we look for her to lead the team.”
Six-foot senior Ragan Barron and 5-foot-8 junior Izzy Hoerschgen also return for Catholic.
Foley on Barron and Hoerschgen: “Good rebounder and passer (Baron), and great speed and probably our best defender (Hoerschgen). Both were varsity players last year but will see a lot more action this year after graduating six seniors.”
With a host of available spots open on the roster, several varsity newcomers will step in and compete for playing time this season in 5-foot-9 sophomore Sophia Foley and 5-foot-7 sophomore Kennedy Coppage.
Coach Foley on Sophia Foley: “Rebounds well and a really good defender.”
Coach Foley on Coppage: “Good shooter from all areas. Runs the floor well and has a high basketball IQ.”
Several members from a strong freshman class could also make an impact at the varsity level in 5-foot-4 Helen Piatchek, 5-foot-6 Christiana Remulla, 5-foot-10 Adali Gottman, 5-foot-6 Grace Fairbairn and 5-foot-6 Brinley Scott.
Heading into his sixth season at the helm, Coach Foley believes his young and relatively inexperienced team is capable of developing quickly as the season progresses.
“Although we are a younger team (only three upperclassmen,) I believe we will have a really good season,” Coach Foley said. “Our returning players have welcomed in the younger girls, and they gelled well this summer and got some good wins in our summer leagues.
“Our goal is always to get better, become a more cohesive team and compete for a district title. This group will need to ‘grow up fast,’ but they have the ability and heart to accomplish this, so it will be exciting to see what happens.”
