Girls Basketball Preview

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Newington

Coach: Rick Bangs (2nd year)

Last year: 11-10, lost in first round of Class LL tournament

Key losses:  Stasha Greenalch, Kayla Guest, Ashleigh Beauford, Stephanie Kowalski

Key returnees:  Julie Iskra (sr. F)

Outlook: Losing the Herald’s Female Athlete of the Year in Greenalch, as well as three other key factors to their team leaves the Indians needing to turn the page and start anew this year. Four of the team’s five starters from last year and six seniors are gone, so the Indians are in rebuild mode.

Fortunately, Bangs feels the team has the potential to do so, saying the team is “equipped with a very athletic group who will play with a high energy, effort and enthusiasm.”

Perhaps the cornerstone of the rebuild is Iskra, a forward Newington will ask a lot of and expect her to answer the call.

“Julie is a very talented, athletic player,” Bangs said. “She is the one player coming back with the most experience. I feel Julie really sets the tone for us as a team which plays with a great deal of athleticism, and plays unselfishly.”

Along with her play on the floor, Iskra will be asked to be a leader, something she seems born to do.

“She is a very high character kid who is very focused on continuing to improve throughout her senior season,” Bangs said. “She has played very well for us so far in the preseason. I am anxious to see how it pans out in the regular season.”

With so many questions in a tough league, it might be a lot to ask of Newington to repeat last season’s success, but don’t count the Indians out, either. Bangs works as hard as anyone at his craft and will relish the chance to work with new players.

Courtesy of the NB Herald

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Wednesday, December 17, 2014
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