By Dan Shriner
Review Editor
The Lake Orion girls? varsity basketball team is loaded with experience this year and Coach Steve Roberts hopes it will push the Dragons into the upper levels of the OAA White Division.
The ladies won their opening match of the season, 45-34 over Brandon, with a balanced scoring attack. Evelyn Wischmeyer led the scoring with 10 points. Hannah Hamay netted eight. Blair Stewart came off the bench and ‘energized? the team with seven points, according to Roberts. Delaney Haan and Cheyenne Lada each contributed six points.
The team is expected to be led by Wischmeyer, Hamay and Delaney Haan but the depth is so good that Robert s said there are several players who can lead. The captains are seniors Wischmeyer, Jenna Losensky and Alex Carpenter, who is injured but expected back soon.
‘For the first time in four years we have an experienced team but yet we are still young,? he said. There is 15 years of combined varsity experience on the team.
The squad has five seniors and eight juniors. The seniors are Hamay, Losensky, Carpenter, Sarah Voss and Blair Stewart. Hamay has played four years on the varsity while the others also are experienced.
The juniors are: guard Mackenzie Case, forwards Wischmeyer, Lauren Thorne, Taylor Warstler, Cheyenne Lada, Jillian Cumo, Kelly Conlon and Haan.
There is one sophomore, Jordyn Marchese, who is a guard.
Roberts said a rotation is still being developed as to who will come off the bench at any time but he is not worried.
‘We have a deep bench and players can go in and contribute with high levels of play,?
The deep bench and solid play from the starters should push the Dragons into the upper tier of teams in the OAA White.
‘We are the dark horse and obviously want to win it,? Roberts said. ‘We want to continue to build and improve, this season and in the future.?