Girls basketball gears up for season

The Lady Outlaws will return a strong core of players to their squad this year, including seniors Chelsie McConville, Marin Allen and Whitney Hansen, junior Elise Herron and sophomore Taylor Nieri.

These five returnees will bring experience, maturity and leadership to the team. McConville is one of the team's most athletic and physical players and brings great floor leadership to the team.

Coach Julianne Horner said, "Chelsie has an innate court awareness and a greatly improved shooting range. Her dedication to the sport has been almost unmatched throughout summer ball and off-season conditioning workouts, and it will be obvious on the floor this season."

Allen will complement McConville extremely well in the back court with her speed and on-court leadership. Her aggressive defensive style and three-point shooting will be a big asset to the team.

Hanson, with her increased speed and agility will be a force under the basket.

Horner stated that the seniors will make a huge contribution to the team chemistry and set the tone for the season with strong basketball skills and leadership on and off the floor.

Herron and Nieri will both provide outstanding defense and energy. They are experienced shooting guards from the three-point arc as well as in transition.

Joining the varsity squad this year will be senior Katie Yozamp and juniors Lauryn Chauncey (guard), Sammy Kaiser (forward) and Carissa Kernutt (post). According to Horner, Chauncey is tenacious on defense and has a diehard but ever-positive attitude. Yozamp, Kaiser, and Kernutt will give the Lady Outlaws a powerful inside presence and rebounding on both ends of the court.

Hannah Saraceno, a senior guard transfer from Summit, also joins the team. Horner stated that Saraceno brings an aggressiveness and understanding of 5A basketball to the team and a maturity and willingness to mentor younger players that has been appreciated by both the team and the coaching staff.

Sophomores Harley Rowe and Avi Vogel and freshmen Jacobie Peterson and Savannah Spear will swing from JV to varsity.

Horner commented that Rowe and Vogel will be critical pieces of the uptempo style the Outlaws plan to embrace this year and will bring both incredible speed and accurate shooting to the squad.

Peterson and Spear will complement the team at the point guard position with their great ball-handling skills.

Horner told The Nugget that she is excited to bring a fast-paced game plan to the team this year.

"In a year that saw many changes to the Sky-Em in terms of both new schools and graduated players, we believe we will be competitive in league play," said Horner. "Our team motto this year is 'Respect All, Fear None' and we're excited to get the season rolling. We have a tough pre-season, and I believe these girls will rise to the challenges they face this pre-season schedule, and it will make us game-ready for league play."