New coach and fresh squad to begin season Monday
by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor
New coach David O?Bryant has a lot in common with his 2010 Huron varsity girls? basketball team. The coach is in his first year of varsity girls? basketball, as are all but one of his team members. This year?s version of the team takes on Inland Lakes Monday in the first game of the season. The junior varsity starts at 6 p.m. with the varsity to follow. Although O?Bryant has three seniors on the team, only Shelby Schleben saw playing time last season. The other two seniors were not on the squad. Emily Bark is back in the basketball program after injuries kept her off the team last season. She played as a freshman and sophomore.
Alev Ibis, an exchange student staying with the Smillie family in Millersburg, is also out for the squad. Others up from last year?s junior varsity are juniors Kelleigh Lamb, Meagan Koss and Becky Talaske. The team will also include sophomores Nikkie LaLonde and Rebecca Meredith. O?Bryant coached boys varsity last year at Inland Lakes, but this is his first girls? squad. The team had a scrimmage with Hillman, Inland Lakes and Wolverine on Saturday at Indian River.
The senior-laden 2009 squad graduated every starter from last season and several key reserves. This year?s team had 10 come out for the team, but three quit. Meredith was called up from the junior varsity leaving eight players on the squad as the season begins. The team hosts Onaway Dec. 1 and Alcona Dec. 3 before traveling to Hillman Dec. 7. They host Sault Ste. Marie Dec. 10 and travel to St. Ignace Dec. 17 before the Christmas break. Coach Karl Grambau has 15 girls out for the junior varsity team. New coach, fresh squad begin season Monday