There are still several weeks to go before we move inside and put our focus' on the Basketball court. The time will go by in a hurry so it's time to start previewing some of the local programs. So take a few minutes to hear from the coaches that were gracious enough to answer my questions!
The next coach on the list is Park Christian's Kurt Motschenbacher as he and his team return to the court after as a successful season with a team full of promise.
Thanks again coach Motschenbacher!
I'm curious about is if there is a memory or two that really stands out as the highlight(s)?
"The girls had a fantastic season with a 23-5 record on the year. They really are a fun group to coach that play well together. The season itself was the best record PCS girls basketball has ever had, it certainly had a lot of great memories for me. A close game at home with Ada-Borup, a last second shot for the lead and win against Henning to move on in the playoffs, a big comeback effort against Pelican Rapids in the following game to finish our season at Concordia are all on my list."
You will have a few seniors but the majority of your roster is juniors & sophomores. As you look to building on what you taught your players last season, do you think that they will be ready to take the next step?
"We did lose some key scorers off last year's team. For us to be successful it will depend on how well our seniors can step in & contribute on the offensive side to make up for that loss. They are an experienced & well balanced group. I am very confident in them & it will be fun to see how they each manage that new responsibility. I am depending on those same seniors to provide valuable leadership mentoring some of the younger girls as they improve their game."
Beyond the every team goal of a state championship, what do you hope to accomplish this season? Are there any goals that you & your players may have already come up with that you would be willing to share?
"Our goals have never been outcome based. Our focus is that we always can control our attitude & effort during any game. They are taught that it is never about the mistake, but what happens after them that I am watching. My goals for them are an attempt to get them to play for each other. Teach them to always compete & work hard, then base success or failure off that effort, not the result."
Is there a certain part of your team that you think will be it's strength come the first tip or even the first practice? Which players have already shown you that they will be leaders both on and off the court?
"Our defensive guard play up front drives our teams tempo, we spend a lot of time preparing this area & the girls enjoy putting some pressure on teams and mixing up their defense. When this goes well our offense usually follows. Junior Karley Motschenbacher is our on court leader, she controls our tempo on both sides of the floor. She is our leading scorer, selected all conference most valuable player last year and is one of the most dynamic players in the area. Additionally, her classmate, Junior guard Ashley Hansen is a our top outside shooter & holds school records for 3 point shooting after only her sophomore year. Karley & Ashley work well together to provide a very effective scoring pair. Our seniors will be the core of this team, as they have been active on varsity since they were freshman. Our seniors understand our system & they work incredibly well together on & off the court. They have always been strong defensively, supporting the girls in scoring roles. This year as a group they have to learn to support the offensive side a little more for us to be successful. I am looking toward seniors Molly Metzger & Hannah Hansen to be key contributors to the team, & not always on the court. They are solid, consistent players for me on the floor but their greatest value will be how they manage & lead this team off the court. Anika Carlson, our senior post player, has been a very strong & consistent player for us over the last 3 years. I expect her play this year to be a key factor in our success as she fills in for the loss of our two senior post players from last year. Senior Kylee Invie is a newcomer who has not played a lot of varsity & had an injury late last year. She brings a much need shot blocking component to our defense. Her quickness, strength & knowledge of the game has improved to the point that I expect her to play a very important role. Finally, keep an eye on Eden Tofibam, sophomore forward. She is young & inexperienced but I have been seeing a lot of exciting things from her play this last year. Our seniors will play a big role in leading her as she figures out her role on the team."
Not to get too personal, but if I may ask, what's it like coaching your daughter?
"She is the main reason why I coach. It has allowed us a number of shared experiences over the years that I would never have had if I was not in this role. It does become tricky to manage the basketball team & home life. When the game is done I try to just be supportive & we generally only talk about things she wants to bring up. Ultimately basketball is her journey, I am just glad I can watch it from a little different view. We feel that we have a special team & I think we are both very proud to be a part of it!"