By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Following another successful campaign that saw them raise their win total from 10-9 to 15-6, the Minneapolis girls basketball team will look to continue their run of excellence in 2023-24.
Bryan Weatherman returns to the helm for his 16th season as head coach of the Lady Lions, with an overall record of 169-151.
Minneapolis returns three starters, and six players with varsity experience, with a familiar rotation that should look something like this come tip-off.
G- Macy McClure (Jr)
G- Braedee Weatherman (Jr)
G- Josi Schrader (Jr)
G- Raelyn Robinson (Jr)
F- Maggie Shupe (Sr)
F- Myka Deronnet
Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Weatherman and get his thoughts on this year’s squad.
Q: When you had a chance to look back on it, what were your overall thoughts on last season?
A: I thought we had an excellent regular season at 15-5. We ended Southeast's regular season win streak in league play and were able to tie them for league champs, but coming up short in the first round of sub-state on our home floor for the second year in a row was disappointing.
Q: Entering this year, what would you say are the biggest known strengths of your team?
A: As it has been for the last couple of seasons it will be our speed and defensive pressure, we also return six kids who have a bunch of varsity experience.
Q: What are the biggest looming questions or challenges that you’ll look to sort out in these first few weeks?
A: We will need a couple of our younger kids to step up and give us some minutes off the bench, especially inside. We are changing a few things from last year, so getting caught up with those things will be important.
Q: What are the biggest goals and expectations for this group heading into the new season?
A: Although I think our league will be tougher than it has been in a while, we want to put ourselves in a position to win it, and to advance deeper into sub-state.
The Lady Lions open their season at Inman with a road game against the Lady Teutons this Friday.