Hawk girls gear up for another run at state

SULLY — Talking to senior returners Lysandra James and Madison Rasmusson, Lynnville-Sully’s girls are answering the questions left by the graduation of four starters from last year’s state qualifying basketball team.

“It’s pretty much a new team, but we’re working well as a team and being aggressive in practice,” James said. The 5-foot-9-inch forward is the lone returning starter from the 21-4 team of a year ago.

“Yes, I’m the team’s post player and I enjoy playing inside. We have the guards who can bring the ball down the court. I’m looking to do my job and finish at the basket by scoring,” James said.

Rasmusson, who saw plenty of action on the court a year ago off the bench, said the younger players are responding well in practices and fitting into roles for the team.

“We’re ready to go. We’ll miss the seniors from last year, but we’re pretty excited about how this season is going to go,” Rasmusson said.

Jerry Hulsing, Lynnville-Sully’s long-time head coach, guides a group of players led by James and Rasmusson and senior Shelby Davis, who missed her junior season because of knee injury. Also back are Marissa Vos and Kasiah Ehresman, who are juniors.

“Our strengths are athleticism, experience and tradition here at Lynnville-Sully,” Hulsing said.

The Hawk girls finished their 2013-14 season in the Iowa Class 1A State Basketball Tournament. They lost in the first round, ending the season at 21-4 and ranked sixth. Lynnville-Sully’s girls finished second in the South Iowa Cedar League with a 17-3 league mark.

“Our goals as a team are to be at the top of the conference. We’re working hard to show people we’re still Lynnville-Sully and we are successful year in and year out,” James said. “We’re excited to get the season started.”

Lynnville-Sully started off with a victory in SICL play at North Mahaska on Nov. 21.

James was a second-team All-SICL selection and was second in scoring for the Hawk girls with 267 points. She was the team’s leading rebounder with 188 rebounds. James was eighth in scoring among league players and seventh in rebounds.

James shot 46 percent, 103-of-225, from the field. She knocked down 61-of-102 free throw attempts for 60 percent. She had 39 steals and 27 assists.

Rasmusson was the fourth-leading scorer for the Hawks last year with 154. She led the team’s outside shooting, hitting 19 of 78 3-point attempts for 24.4 percent. Rasmusson was 57-percent free throw shooter, knocking down 28 of 49 attempts.

Rasmusson was second on the team in assists with 47 and second in steals with 59. She had 71 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Vos and Ehresman had limited roles on varsity a year ago. Davis brings experience from her sophomore season. The Hawks are counting on sophomores Jelissa Rozendaal, Brenna Lanser, Makenzy Rozendaal, Elizabeth Van Manen and Haley James to contribute.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com