The Danville girls basketball team has started the 2021-22 season at 5-3, with a 3-2 KMAC record, and has returned much of last year’s talented core to its current basketball squad.
The team’s continuity and athleticism provide plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the team’s direction.
Matt Proper remains at the helm for his ninth year as the Blue Devils' coach to lead a team flush with talent. Proper’s father was a former coach and impressed upon his son the importance of fundamentals, something that has been and will continue to be a staple of the Blue Devils under Proper’s leadership.
All five starters from a season ago have returned, giving Danville advantages when it comes to both experience and on-court chemistry. Those returners are headlined by senior Brooklyn Hess, who was last year’s KMAC Player of the Year. While Hess is the centerpiece, she is far from the only notable name in the lineup. Senior Alenah Boeshart is another key piece, and sophomore Ella Proper is taking another leap forward after an impressive freshman campaign.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Blue Devils look to push the pace to maximize their strengths as an athletic team with high basketball IQ. Whether in transition or in the half court, the team prioritizes keeping the ball in motion. It does not hurt that the Blue Devils are a strong shooting team as well. The biggest challenge for Danville will be maintaining focus and consistency during each game for the entire season.
Defensively, the Blue Devils apply constant on-ball pressure. The team hopes to provide as much disruption as possible during each and every possession. Matt Proper believes that the team’s athleticism will equip them well in this regard and allow for an efficient defense.
Danville has had one of the county’s strongest girls basketball programs over the past few years, and the expectation is that things will be no different this year and at playoff time. A strong group of seniors has embraced their role as leaders on this team, and the Blue Devils worked hard over the offseason in their pursuit to get better. If they stick to their fundamentals as Proper hopes they will, they should be in for a successful season and a playoff run.
