Poplar’s Girls Prepare For Basketball Season
Under the leadership of a new head coach, the Poplar Indians are aiming for good things this girls’ basketball season.
“It’s been going great,” Poplar coach Bryce Kirk said of pre-season practices. “We’re getting things going and working them hard.”
Returning varsity players for the Indians include Morgen Nordwick, Allie Azure, Jazmyn Carry Water, Courtney Spottedwolf, Teagan Escarcega, Kessee Erickson, Rikki Belton and Gracelyn Medicine Cloud.
Practices during the first week have included a high amount of conditioning work. Poplar will feature good height with Erickson and Belton both at about 5-10.
“We then have a lot of point guards vying for spots,” Kirk said.
He feels the team’s strength will be defense and rebounding.
Kirn has been stressing the importance of maintaining good grades.
“I’ve been telling them winning at home, at school and the basketball court,” he said.
The Indians will play an up-tempo style of basketball that should be enjoyable for the area’s fans.
“They’re going to love it,” Kirk said. “We will have a new look to everything.”
Assistant coaches are Alleeen Russell and Gillian Medicine Cloud. They were members of Poplar’s last team to qualify for the state tournament.
The Indians will open their season with games against St. Labre and Lodge Grass at the Lockwood tournament on Dec. 10-11. Poplar’s first home contest is against Wolf Point on Friday, Dec. 17.
Malta enters the season as the favorite in the league.
“I feel that Malta is one top and then whoever comes to play after that,” Kirk said. “It’s whoever shows up and puts in the work.”
Schedule
Dec. 10-11: at Lockwood Tournament Dec. 17: Wolf Point Dec. 18: at Harlem Dec. 21: at Lame Deer Jan. 4: at Frazer Jan. 7: at Fairview Jan. 8: Dodson Jan. 14: Malta Jan. 15: at Glasgow Jan. 21: at Wolf Point Jan. 22: Harlem Jan. 28: Frazer Jan. 29: Lame Deer Feb. 4: Fairview Feb. 5: at Dodson Feb. 11: at Malta Feb. 12: Glasgow Feb. 17-19: District (Glasgow) March 3-5: Divisional (Cut Bank) March 10-12: State (Bozeman)
