The Pirates were short on experience and height last season, but seven seniors on this year's varsity roster takes care of half of that problem this year for longtime Pirates coach Vicki Lohmann.

"We're still lacking in height, but I feel we've gotten better just because of the experience," said Lohmann, who graduated just one senior and returns all the starters from last year's 8-17 team. "Some of those girls have started since their sophomore year and they've got to get better, and I feel like we are and I feel like we were putting a lot of time into things this summer that we had to do."

The senior group includes last year's leading scorer, point guard Kylie Bilek, leading rebounder Emma Nelson at forward, and 5-foot-8 center Ahnie Hoff, the tallest player on the team and one who led the team in rebounding her junior year. Both Bilek and Hoff are three-year starters.

"Of the seven seniors that I have, each of them has a role, and each of them can do their job very well," Lohmann said. "I feel like if one of them has an off night, I know that somebody can step in there. And if they don't step in there, I know I've got underclassmen who are very hungry to play and willing to go in and do what they need to do and easy to coach."

Lohmann said the middle school program, led by her new assistant coach D.J. Goodsen, has been strong the last couple of years and promises to infuse the varsity with some skilled players.

"He's really put a lot of time and effort into making the program down there very, very strong," Lohmann said.

Lohmann has 14 players on her roster, including three sophomore forwards, Maci Hotop, Brooke Buerck and Hannah Layton, who will split between the JV and varsity, along with freshman guard Kirstin Jannin.

"The way they're playing in practice and doing things, I can definitely see they're going to see varsity time," Lohmann said.

The emerging talent tops out in height with the 5-8 Hotop, so Lohmann said her team will look to play a fast style to offset it's overall lack of size.

"I hope to push the ball up and down the floor, and I hope to see some transition baskets and easy points like that, because if we have to go against someone with a larger lineup, we may have some problems," Lohmann said.

Players to watch

Bilek has been a vital component for the Pirates on both offense and defense, and she should get some assistance from Jannin, the only freshman on the varsity roster.

"She really is a nice addition to our varsity lineup this year," Lohmann said about Jannin. "She can actually do point, which should relieve Kylie a little bit from the job of being the best defender and trying to bring the ball down the floor and trying to create offense. We can interchange her and Kylie at the point guard position. It's actually going to relieve Kylie a little bit and allow her to play the two and three positions, where she can hit the shot or drive on it, and Kylie has a nice eye for seeing the pass to the big girls inside. So I feel those two interchanging right there could really help us out.

"Kylie has basically played every single minute of every game, so it will give her a little bit of relief if she needs to get out of the game and get a breather once in awhile. It's really nice to have that option now that you're not just relying on one person."

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Class 4 District 1

Conference

Jefferson County Activities Association -- Large Schools Division

Head coach

Vicki Lohmann

(18th year)

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ROSTER

No. Player Pos. Year

1 Kirstin Jannin G 9

3 Allison McGarvey G 12

4 Kylie Bilek G 12

5 Lydia Cook G 11

10 Reese Nations G 12

11 Abby Robinson G/F 12

12 Ahnie Hoff F 12

14 Maci Hotop G/F 10

21 Jasmyn Mahathath G 11

22 Alyssa Stortz G 11

24 Anna Huskey F 12

25 Brooke Buerck F/C 10

32 Emma Nelson F 12

45 Hannah Layton F 10

STARTERS GONE

None

STARTERS BACK

Kylie Bilek

Ahnie Hoff

Abbie Robinson

Hannah Nelson

Allison McGarvey

Jasmine Mahathath

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SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

11/30 @Scott Co. Central 6 p.m.

12/7 Jefferson 7:30 p.m.

12/8 Meadow Heights 7:30 p.m.

12/12 vs. North County TBA

12/16 SEMO Tourn.

12/26 St. Paul Christmas Tourn.

1/7 @De Soto 7:30 p.m.

1/18 @Valle Catholic 7:30 p.m.

1/19 Sikeston 7:30 p.m.

1/21 Hillsboro 7:30 p.m.

1/28 Woodland 7:30 p.m.

1/30 @St. Vincent 3:30 p.m.

2/4 Festus 7:30 p.m.

2/9 @Scott City 7:30 p.m.

2/11 @Windsor 7:30 p.m.

2/15 @Fredericktown 7:30 p.m.

2/18 Cape Central 7:30 p.m.

2/22 @Ste. Genevieve 7:30 p.m.

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LAST SEASON

LEADERS

Points: Kylie Bilek (12 ppg)

Rebounds: Ahnie Hoff (8.9 rpg)

Assists: Bilek (2.7 apg)

RECORD

8-17