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Speed and tenacity: De Pere girls’ basketball preview

BY RICH PALZEWIC
SPORTS EDITOR


DE PERE – The De Pere girls’ basketball team will be an exciting bunch to watch this season.

Using their speed and tenacity, the Redbirds are hoping their aggressive defense will lead to easy opportunities on the offensive end.

“We want the tempo to be high,” said De Pere head coach Jeremy Boileau, who is beginning his third year at the helm. “We are full court, in your face and want to run quickly offensively and defensively. These girls have bought into it. We are a team that won’t get outworked and take a ton of pride in our defense. We are quick to the rim, but in order to play like we want to, we have to be well conditioned.”

The Redbirds finished 13-10 overall and 10-8 in the Fox River Classic Conference (fifth) last season but lost a 50-43 WIAA regional game to Green Bay Preble to end their season.

De Pere, who had a six-game winning streak at one point last year, also endured a four-game losing streak.

The Redbirds lost a few key players to graduation, including Annie Schneider (9.7 points per game, second team all-conference), Rachel Miller (6.9 ppg, 8.8 rebounds per game) and Katelyn Simeons (7.0 ppg).

Abby Hohol, Sierra Strope-Robinson and Corina Bauer have also graduated.

“We definitely lost some good players, but returning players Rachel Kerkhoff (senior, 12.5 ppg, 33 three-pointers) and Natalie Cerrato (senior, 7.5 ppg) are good leaders for us and should have big years. Rachel is one of the best shooters in the area and can score from inside and out. Natalie was hurt half the year last year, but she can score. Freshman Jordan Meulemans is 5-foot-10 and can play multiple positions. I’m also looking for senior Elena Miller (4.0 ppg) to step up and be more of a scorer this year, too. We also have some new girls to varsity that have shown they can put the ball in the basket.”

Boileau noted that Meulemans has already been offered by UWGB despite her youth.

Kaitlyn Borseth is a returning senior, while junior Ellie Schneider (3.3 ppg) also returns. Junior newcomers include Megan Wettstein, Erin Roup, Mikayla Pietrek, Skyler Meulemans, Sophie Hubbard and Keely Dorn. Sophomore Sophia McCarty rounds out the roster.

Boileau feels his team will be right in the mix in the conference race but tabs Bay Port as the team to watch. Green Bay Southwest, Sheboygan North, Pulaski, Green Bay Preble and Green Bay Notre Dame will also be solid.

“I’m okay with my team being under the radar a little bit,” Boileau added. “Other teams know we will play hard. The top half of our conference is really tough – one of the toughest around. I’m excited to see what we can do this season.”

For the complete schedule, CLICK HERE.

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