Raiderettes rely on experience in 2020
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
The Raiderette basketball team is entering its 14th season under coach Thad Streit, who holds a career record of 223-84.
Streit is assisted by Tiffany Bolles, who helped him coach the Raiderettes to a 19-4 record last season to tie for first place in the Pride of Iowa Conference.
The 2019 campaign came to an end after a loss to Logan-Magnolia in the playoffs.
A lot of leadership and experience return to the hardwood after losing Jaycee Knight and Sam Stewart to graduation last May.
“After one week of practice we like how this team is competing in practice and playing fast and aggressive,” said coach Streit. “You always lose players to graduation and somebody will always step up and surprise you, not only with their stats but also taking a leadership role.”
The Raiderettes return veterans Alexa Anderson, Channler Henle, MaKayla Jones, Rachel Sobotka, Hope Whittington, Halsie Barnes, Payten Lambert, Maddie Stewart and Tegan Streit.
Henle and Sobotka were selected to All-Conference last season.
Coach Streit sees Whittington, Barnes, Lambert and Streit seeing more minutes on the floor this season as well.
“We have a lot of young ladies assuming a leadership role and helping out,” said Streit.
Among the returning experience is a core of five seniors who have seen a lot of floor time.
The junior class is filled with athleticism that looks to shine during this campaign.
Seniors Henle and Sobotka will takeover as the teams leading scorers after Sam Stewart, the teams all-time leading scorer as well as the holder of the most points in a game record graduated and is now playing ball in Nebraska with Peru State.
Stewart’s sister, Maddie, will bring the same enthusiasm to the court as Sam, looking to improve upon her 6.5 points per game at the guard position.
Coach Streit mentioned that despite graduating two great seniors in Stewart and Knight, this team brings back speed.
Instead of seeing a large scoring stat on one line, you will now see the points spread between the girls.
The Raiderettes begin their season next Tuesday, November 24 as they host Lamoni at 6 p.m.
