By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Following a .500 season in 2022-23, the Salina Central girl’s basketball team will look to kick things back into high gear when the new campaign tips off later this week.
Chris Fear returns for a seventh season as the leader of the Lady Mustangs with an impressive overall record of 115-47 at the helm.
Graduation didn’t hit Central quite as hard as it did a year ago, and the veteran-heavy Lady Stangs return four of their starting five from last year’s squad.
G- Callan Hall (Sr)
G- Tyler Vidricksen (Sr)
F- Elle Denning (Sr)
F- Azbey Peckham (Sr)
To help replace graduate Brynn O’Hara, Central will also look for big minutes out of a trio of seniors in Saniya Triplett, Kendyl Gary, and Maylin Owen.
Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Fear 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 was really pleased with what we were able to do last season with a brand-new group of players. The record was what it was but I felt we were able to get most of our potential out of the season. Our schedule was more difficult than it had been the previous two years, but we took a very talented Andover team right to the end on the road in the Sub-State Final and played our best basketball at the end of the season.
Q: Entering this year, what would you say are the biggest known strengths of your team?
A: Our biggest strength this season will be our ability to run the floor and get offense from multiple players. We have versatile players who can make shots and handle the basketball, and eight seniors to lead our group.
Q: What are the biggest looming questions or challenges that you’ll look to sort out in these first few weeks?
A: We don't have a lot of size in the post and will need to do some unique things defensively to guard the post and rebound.
Q: What are the biggest goals and expectations for this group heading into the new season?
A: We definitely want to take a step forward and win more games. We want to get a good seed for the playoffs and have an opportunity to get back to the state tournament. Most everyone is back from last season and I feel like several of our players have improved, now we get an opportunity to see who we are.
The Lady Mustangs open their season in Salina with a home game against Maize this Friday.