Cotter Girls Basketball looks to be “strong defensive team”
Junior Gabby Bowlin goes up for a layup past Winona’s Hallee Hoeppner in last year’s Lewiston Auto Holiday Tournament. Bowlin, who averaged 16.8 points per game last year, is one of the conference’s leading scorers.
Last year, the Cotter Ramblers girls basketball team was a defensive stronghold. In their 25 games in 2014-2015, they only allowed more than 60 points 5 times.
Head Coach Pat Bowlin says that trend will continue in the 2015-2016 campaign.
“[We] should be a strong defensive team. I believe we will have the ability to play excellent full court and half-court defense.”
Last year’s top three rebounders, seniors Kirsten Weifenbach (5.1) and Mikala Nelton (4.6) and junior Gabby Bowlin (3.6) return for the Ramblers. Bowlin also led the team in points-per-game (16.8 PPG), assists-per-game (2.9 APG), and led the conference in steals-per-game (4.4 SPG).
“Despite our tallest player being 5’7”, I expect us to be a decent rebounding team,” Coach Bowlin said.
Nelton is that 5’7” player that Bowlin hopes to utilize more this year with Weifenbach, both offensively and defensively.
“Mikala is a good athlete who is one of the best post defenders I have coached. [She] will be counted on to provide more scoring this year from the 4 position.”
“Kirsten has demonstrated the ability to be a lock down defender and will be counted on to add more scoring with her solid mid-range game.”
The Ramblers are looking to build off of their 14-12 mark from the previous season. The team fell in the first round of playoffs to Lake City 59-49. It was the first playoff game for the Ramblers not played in Winona in a long time. Offensively, fans should expect to see more of a half court set than in years past. Bowlin is looking to his three returning starters, as well as junior Jane Koll, to provide an offensive spark.
“[Jane adds] a great feel for the offensive game. [She] can get to the basket off the dribble and knock down the mid-range jumper. Her ability to extend her shooting range will be a key to our season.”
“Our depth may force us to play more half court than I would like. We need to improve our outside shooting and free throw percentage to compete with our league’s best” he added.
The Three Rivers Conference is one of the toughest in the state, with a handful of competitive A and AA teams. Rival Caledonia, Plainview-Elgin-Millville, and returning state champion Dover-Eyota are the teams to beat. Chatfield has always been force to reckon with in the past. Last year, those four teams finished 20-4 or better. Southland also concluded the season 17-9 overall.
While practices have already started, scrimmages against Rochester Century and Pine Island have been scheduled for the upcoming week. The Ramblers officially open up the season against Caledonia on Tuesday, December 1 at 7:30PM at the Nett. In their last meeting, the Warriors outlasted Cotter 64-60 in triple overtime. The two teams have always created a new classic with each matchup. Nelton, however, said the group is not worried about that.
“We are working on getting back to the basics and shooting. Because of our size, outside shooting is going to be key [this season]. Right now, we are being focused and engaged in every practice to work as a team and get better as a whole.”
