High hopes for Hawks
SULLY — Winning close games in 2008 was the key to a 19-6 record and regional semifinal appearance for the Lynnville-Sully girls basketball team.
The Hawks were 10-2 in games decided by eight points or less as the team placed tied for second in the South Iowa Cedar League.
“We won a lot of close games last year, and that came down to the kids executing and being in the right spot,” said Lynnville-Sully coach Jerry Hulsing, who is entering his 18th season as coach. “We’ll have to do that again. Right now we’re just trying to get ourselves as good as we can be.”
And losing just one senior — Cyvannah Doll — the Hawks will be in great shape to have another solid season. Doll was second on the team last season with 8.6 points per game as she started every game for Hulsing.
“We do have several key players back,” Hulsing. “It’s just putting them together and getting them to gel. It’s still a learning experience with losing Cyvannah. Some kids will be in different roles.”
The Hawks return starters Mariah Terlouw (senior), Tessa Engle (senior), Tara Van Rees (junior) and Danielle Samson (junior), with a total of seven letterwinners back for this season. Van Rees led the team with nine points per game and also led the team in assists. Samson was the team leader in rebounds.
Other returning letterwinners are junior Caitlin Cross, junior Taylor Van Wyk and sophomore Brianna James.
“These kids have two or three years under their belt,” Hulsing said. “When we go over some of the stuff we’ve run, they’ve picked it up really quickly and gotten more things in. Having a veteran team, we’re not spending so much time on teaching.”
Hulsing is looking toward that group of seven returning letterwinners for leadership and guidance.
“Our seniors Mariah and Tessa have both been playing a couple, three years,” Hulsing said. “Tara has been playing two years — she’s our point guard. Just by nature, the point guard is going to be the leader. Getting older, she’s ready to take that role.”
Heading into the season, the Hawks should have a solid chance to contend for a South Iowa Cedar League title. Sigourney won the title last year with an undefeated mark. Lynnville-Sully and Belle Plaine tied for second, while Keota and BGM were in a distant tie for fourth.
“Sigourney is right there again,” Hulsing said. “They have their two big post kids back. I know they are looking for some guard play — they’ll be right there. Hopefully we can be there right in the mix.”
Hulsing expects North Mahaska to be improved after getting a large group of athletic freshmen some playing time, while Belle Plaine and English Valleys return a good chunk of starters as well.
With just 16 players on the team, Hulsing wants to keep his team healthy entering the season opener tonight at English Valleys.
“We have some depth, but we need to stay healthy,” Hulsing said. “The environment and world we’re living in with H1N1, we just need to stay healthy. We can’t afford kids in foul trouble or hurt.”
For Hulsing, the expectations are high. The Hawks enter tonight as the Class 1A No. 8 team.
“We’re going to have to play well together, come out tough and put 32 minutes together,” Hulsing said.
