CENTERBURG – Centerburg coach Bo Glenn is hoping that last season serves as nothing more than motivation.
The Trojans were just 1-22 overall and 0-14 in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference before losing their opener 60-44 to Marion Elgin in the second round of the Division III district tournament.
“I don’t think we can wash away the memory,” Glenn said. “I’d like to. But I also think we have to use it as a motivating force. Every now and then, we bring it up. We’ll say, ‘If you’re not blocking out and rebounding, that’s a 1-22 play. If you fix these things, now it’s a different ballgame.’
“I’d love to forget about it, but it’s there. We all lived it, except for two seniors. Everybody else is back.”
The message has been heard.
“We’ve worked on rebounding a lot,” junior Chloe Goulter said. “I think we’ve gotten better. The first two scrimmages, we’ve worked a lot at boxing out and getting rebounds, and I think we’ve improved on that the most. We really needed to work on communication a lot more too.”
“We’ve built really good relationships with the girls already,” senior Amelia Smith said. “I’m just really excited to see where it goes.”
This crop of Trojans will have to replace outgoing seniors Lydia Grandstaff and Grace Mulpas.
Goulter was a bright spot for Centerburg a year ago.
“Chloe is such a unique person,” Glenn said. “When she’s smiling, she’s such a great (person) to be around and everybody feeds off her energy. So we’ve gotta get things going for her and get her off to a fast start, so that she can bring that energy that will just uplift the rest of the team.”
Smith; fellow seniors Makenna Martindale, Olivia Ross and Rebecca Scholl; and junior Avery Tucker all have at least a year of varsity experience under their belts.
“(Smith) has really worked on her shot,” Glenn said. “I’m stoked and excited for (Scholl) this year. Defensively — on the ball — she’s really good. (Ross) is another that brings a lot of energy.
“Avery Tucker is coming back. She lost a lot of reps last year because she was injured with a broken collarbone and an ankle (injury). She’s just so dog-gone fast … you gotta love cross country runners — their motor never stops.”
Junior Allie Beekman missed the season because of an ACL injury, and sophomore Olivea Joiner saw some varsity time but was primarily a junior varsity player.
“(Beekman) will run through a brick wall for you,” Glenn said. “She’s strong as an ox."
Glenn sees a lot of talent in his freshmen class of Alyssa Harris, Clara Johnson and Stella Weisbrod. They will join the fold on varsity.
“Clara Johnson is a freshman who is starting varsity,” he said. “I know how that felt and she’s doing much better than I did, for sure. Alyssa Harris is a really good shooter (and) Stella Weisbrod is doing well too. I think once they build up confidence, they’re going to add a lot.”
