The Fredericktown girls’ basketball team is coming off a 17-6 season in which the Freddies finished second in the KMAC, and while depth may be an issue, coach Tim Maceyko has high hopes for his squad this season.
“It's a strong league, but if we remain healthy, we believe we can compete at a high level again this season,” said Maceyko, who has more than 15 years of coaching experience.
Seniors Gabby Daniels and Audrey Bouton won KMAC and All-District honors last year, and their contributions as leaders will be huge, Maceyko said. Sophomore Jill Bouton stands at 6-foot-1 and was a letter winner last season as a freshman. Junior Grace Sipes has experience at guard, and freshman Cally Carpenter should get plenty of time. Senior Annie Maglott, junior Krissie Gaines and sophomore Trinity Garretson will provide support on the perimeter.
The team focuses on transition offense but also has a solid post game. Maceyko said the team worked over the summer on a triple post set, and he plans to use this throughout the season.
“I’m excited to see how the combination develops as the season progresses,” Maceyko said.
Defensively the team uses 1-3-1 and 3-2 zones, but there is some man-to-man thrown in. Last year, the Freddies had a much-improved defense that allowed only 38 points per game and were one of the strongest rebounding teams in the league. The coach says rebounding will be crucial to the team's success.
This year’s rally cry is “play with passion,” and Maceyko said the team talks about playing without fear and leaving it all on the court.
“The number of wins and losses is secondary to playing with passion,” Maceyko said.
