Mount Ayr ready for hoops season
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By Dalton Shadle
MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The Mount Ayr girls basketball team is gearing up for the upcoming season and are looking to continnue its success from last year’s campaign.
Coming off a 21-2 record, which included a 15-1 Pride of Iowa Conference record last season, Raiderette coach Thad Streit has set his goals and expecations for this year’s team, but it all starts with chemistry.
“I just want everybody to get along, you know,” he said.
Besides that chemistry the goals are lofty.
“Team wise, probably finish top three in the conference,” he said. “Another goal is we always want to win as many games as we can, to host as many games as we can.”
With new players Streit calls on upperclassmen to take on leadership roles.
“We got a good nucleus back we’re counting on,” he said.
Part of that “nucleus” returning is second team all-state player in Izzy Gilbertson, along with Dannie Stewart.
Gilbertson was Mount Ayr’s leading scorer last season as she shot over 50 percent from the field. Stewart was the team’s fourth ledaing scorer last year.
“They were both starters their freshman year. Jaylee Shaffer was a starter her freshman year,” Streit said. “That junior class is now the upperclassmen, and they’re going to have to take on leadership roles and lead by example.”
Shaffer collected 84 rebounds third highest on the team last season.
Streit said that he has seen a lot of growth in his players
“You know, we’ve had some kids that have gotten a lot better,” he said. “So everybody’s gotta step up. Every year you have kids graduate, and every year somebody has to step up and assume a better position.”
The Raiderette season starts on November 25.
