Montague coach Jess DeBruin isn't denying that this year is a rebuilding year after almost all the major contributors from last season's district runner-up team graduated.
Every Wildcat who scored a point in the district finals defeat to Spring Lake last season is gone, and this year's roster looks to be very young, with only one senior - Gentry Knop. DeBruin believes Knop will benefit from her experience as the volleyball team's libero as she steps into a leadership role for this year's squad.
"She was a significant leader there at libero," DeBruin said. "That gave her a little bit of a boost. With that behind her and that experience, she'll be able to take it and bring it to our team. It hasn't been too much of a problem for her. She's one of those kids who knows she needs to be in that role and will take charge of that role."
Knop is one of several multi-sport athletes set to take the court for Montague, and DeBruin said the team will rely heavily on that athleticism to help counter its lack of basketball experience. The cliche is that younger teams hope to compete on the defensive end while the offensive game develops, and that will be true of this team.
"Our defense is definitely going to create our offense," DeBruin said. "We're definitely going to press, but I also have a limited bench so I'll have to be careful about that. You can't press all the time because we'll get tired."
At the forward spot, Annelyse Schneider and Molly Mulder are slated to play big roles. Schneider brings length and tenacity, and DeBruin is hopeful she'll be able to be a force on the defensive side of the ball while using her height and strength to get to the basket on offense. Mulder, too, brings strength and rebounding ability to the court and will be counted on to battle with opponents' most powerful post players.
At the guard spot, Gabby Dietz and Addi Smith should be major factors. They both are very quick and will utilize that skill on both ends of the floor.
"(Addi Smith) is one of those quiet players, quiet leaders, who could potentially turn a big corner and do some things for us," DeBruin said.
The Wildcats will be less concerned about any particular game - though Whitehall is always a highlight of the schedule - than they will be about improving themselves each game and each practice, given their lack of experience. Fremont and Ludington, power programs in the West Michigan Conference Lakes in recent years, should be in that position again, and DeBruin said Manistee could also be tough.
While the Wildcats may have to take some lumps along the way, DeBruin is optimistic for what this year could produce in the long term, calling this year "an opportunity to remold the program."
"Anything can happen with our girls," DeBruin said. "They like to put up a fight."
