Froid/Lake Girls Aim To Battle Near Top Of League Standings

After coming a game away from the state tournament last season, Froid/Lake’s girls basketball squad shoots to be a threat again this time around.

The Red Hawks return four starters from a season ago. The team will miss the ability of All-State performer Sydney Labatte, who graduated last year.

“Losing Sydney Labatte is a huge blow, but we have young girls with experience,” Coach Lance Brekke said. “We will see once the ball starts rolling.”

Heading the list of returning starters is All-State selection Sydney Dethman. The 6-2 senior has signed to play basketball at NCAA Division I Fresno State.

Brekke said Dethman provides good leadership and has been a key player for the Red Hawks since her eighthgrade year. Dasani Nesbit, a 5-9 sophomore, returns after earning All-Conference second team honors last season.

Baylee Davidson, a sophomore, was a sharp-shooter for the Red Hawks last season. Meg Ator, a 5-5 junior, and Carolyne Christoffersen, a 5-10 sophomore, started at times last year.

Jaeleigh Davidson, a freshman, rounds out the group of high school girls on the squad.

The team will feature five eighth-graders, but those players won’t have enough practices in prior to the season’s first game. “They are getting there,” Brekke said of the eighth-graders.

The coach is optimistic heading into the campaign. “We have some good kids coming back,” Brekke said.

Weaknesses include the squad’s youth and inexperience with only one senior.

“Our goal is to play hard and work to improve every week,” Brekke said. “That’s where we’re at right now.”

Top contenders in the district are expected to include Plentywood, Richey/Lambert, Fairview, MonDak and Circle.

The Red Hawks will open their season at Culbertson on Saturday, Jan. 2.

Froid/Lake will host Plentywood on Thursday, Jan. 7, and Fairview on Saturday, Jan. 9. Both of those games are in Medicine Lake.