By Adam Knoll
Sports Correspondent
After a solid 2013-14 season that saw the team get bounced early from the WIAA tournament, the Whitewater High School girls basketball team is back. As the seasons change, so do the players, and the Whippets leading scorer – last year and all time – has moved on, meaning other players will have to step up and it appears as if they’re ready to do so.
Leading the charge this season for Whitewater is sophomore Myriama Smith-Traore, who came on toward the latter half of the season last year to become a force to be reckoned with. Next to her are Rebekah and Sarah Schumacher, veterans on the team who will help with balance and keep the team from swinging wildly from game to game, if all goes according to plan.
The Whippets took on Oregon Nov. 18 in their home opener – a close game that ended with Whitewater securing the win, 50-43.
On Nov. 20 they faced Watertown, winning a bit more easily, 69-50, behind Traore’s 21 points. The Schumacher sisters scored 38 points combined and the team as a whole really upped the pressure in the second and third quarters, outscoring Watertown 38-21 during that stretch.
At their best last year, the Whippets were at their strongest when the defense was stifling and the offense consistent. Yes, Whitewater can outscore even the best teams in the area on a good night. Yet, to win deep in the regionals, the team will need the defense to be playing well, a reachable goal if the play early this season is any indicator.
“It was an extremely impressive performance,” head coach Judy Harms said. “I was extremely pleased with the improvement we showed from our first game.”
Whitewater was an impressive 20 for 20 at the free throw line, which basically doubles as the team’s margin for victory. Harms was sure to point out that Cheyenne Minton provided some nice spark off the bench, dishing out several nice assists from the inside while in the game.
“Overall, we are already making nice strides and I expect that to continue,” Harms said.
Results from last week’s game will appear in the Dec. 4 issue of the Register.
