Lady Dragons season opener Saturday

Young team with only four seniors|

Last year, the Lady Dragon hoopsters ran through the Sonoma County League with a perfect 12-0 record.

But Coach Jann Thorpe lost six seniors to graduation and this year’s team is a young with four seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and a freshman.

“This is a different team, Thorpe said. “I’m excited because we have good senior leadership.”

The Lady Dragons have six returning players – seniors Alyssa Schimm, Amy Stanfield, Sydney Von Gober; and juniors Annika Ginter, Annie Neles and Sofia Vitale. And one senior transfer from Justin-Siena – Jasmine Simpson-Gomez.

“Our core is returning,” said Thorpe. “But everyone should be ready when they have their name called.”

She said the team will probably watch more film this year than they have in the past. “And we’re going to be spending more time on our skill work,” she added.

The two things that have impressed Thorpe so far is the senior leadership and the way the underclassmen have stepped up.

“It’s so nice to have a group of seniors to lead parts of practice,” the coach said. “And with the underclassmen, it’s a big jump in intensity and speed from the JVs.”

Besides the returning players, the Lady Dragons will be counting on junior Erin Gylfe; sophomores Kaliyah Hensic, Kasia Jacobson and Kennedy Midgley; and freshman Sophie Lucchetti.

While the Lady Dragons aren’t big, Thorpe wants them to rely on speed and pressure.

“We want to make decisions on the fly,” Thorpe said. “We’ll read our opponents’ defense and take what they’re giving.”

There is no freshman team this year, just varsity and JV.

“We just didn’t have the numbers this year,” Thorpe said. “It could return next year.”

Thorpe thinks the SCL, in its last season, is up for grabs.

“Analy lost a bunch of seniors, Petaluma didn’t have any seniors last year and Healdsburg had a number of freshmen on the varsity last year,” she said. “The SCL is going to be much more competitive this year.”

Thorpe is guardedly optimistic about the coming year. “It’s hard to say, since we haven’t played anyone yet.”

The Lady Dragons had a scrimmage Saturday at Justin-Siena and they’ll take the floor for the first time tonight at Montgomery for the annual Foundation Game.

Wednesday is the annual Alumni Game at 5:30 p.m., and if any additional alumns want to play, they can show up at 5 p.m.

The Lady Dragons open their pre-season schedule Saturday when they entertain American Canyon. JV game time is 4:30 p.m. and varsity is 6 p.m.

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