WOODWARD — Head coach Gary Dresback said before the start of the 2018-2019 season that he believed the Woodward-Granger girls basketball team was “set up to do some good things.”
He was right, as the Hawks finished 11-12 overall, a considerable improvement over a 4-19 2017-2018 campaign. With most key pieces returning, Dresback’s squad figures to be a solid bet to reach double-digit wins again.
Raising the victory total over 11 will depend, Dresback said, on one simple factor — putting the ball in the basket with increased accuracy.
“I think we will be OK defensively, and should hold most people in the 30’s or mid-40’s,” the coach mused. “What we have to do is shoot the ball better. Take care of it and move it well, first, of course, but then we have to finish. As simple — and as tough, at times — as that. Shooting the ball well is everything.”
W-G connected on only 29.8 percent of their shots from the floor last season, a clip hampered by a 19.9 percent rate beyond the 3-point arc. The team fared better at the foul line, but Dresback said he wanted “a much better effort” than the 52.6 percent effort from the charity stripe last season.
The Hawks averaged 38.3 points per game while yielding 40.7 point per outing and finished the year with 10 steals per contest.
All-WCAC sophomore Emma Anderson led the team with 293 points (12.7 ppg). She had 90 rebounds (3.9 rpg), 32 assists and 74 steals and finished 66-of-100 at the foul line.
“Emma will be key for us,” Dresback said. “We will need her scoring as well as the defense she can provide for us. She had a solid freshman year and I am sure she will be even better this year.”
Natalie Helbling returns and will run the point. She scored 72 points last season while clearing 105 rebounds, a 4.6 carom per game rate, and added 35 steals and 24 assists.
Katelyn Scharlau had 115 points (5.0 ppg) and 127 rebounds (5.5 rpg). She swatted away 14 shots and contributed 23 steals and will counted on to be a steady presence under the basket.
Also returning are Mae Anderson (3.3 points and 4.2 boards per contest) and Darby Nixon (2.4 ppg). Both are certain to play important roles.
The Hawks will be joined by the W-G boys for coed sets against Martensdale-St. Marys Dec. 5 and at Panorama Dec. 6.
