Staff writer
Peabody-Burns High School Lady Warrior basketball will have an abundance of experience on the floor in 2011-12. With the loss of only one starter from the previous season, the chemistry should be in place early and the group can then concentrate on executing well on both sides of the ball.
Letter winners Sarah Hofkamp and Rayna Barnes return to the team this year and will have the inside game for the squad. Hofkamp, a senior, is a reliable leader with a lot of enthusiasm. The team will depend on her to score inside and rebound. Barnes is a junior and is strong and physical at the post position. Her past experience will certainly help her with decisions under the basket. Both girls are listed at 5 feet, 10 inches.
Letter winners Brandee Burnett, Paige Lewis and McKenzie Ensminger will join Hofkamp and Barnes. All three are juniors and will share duties on the perimeter. Burnett is a shooting guard who can be a threat from the 3-point arc. Lewis can penetrate and will be relied on to prevent the opponent from crossing the half court line. Ensminger is a reliable ball handler that will be in the point guard position.
Senior Tori Schroeder and sophomore Kaycy Gonzalez are versatile and will play either post or perimeter. Schroeder can be a point producer shooting outside or with the put back underneath. Gonzalez is young and will have the most to learn with the squad of experienced players. Both Schroeder and Gonzalez are previous letter winners.
Darren Schroeder is in his ninth season as the PBHS head coach. He is assisted by Brian Lightner.
“For us to be competitive, we will have to put together four quarters of play every contest,” coach Schroeder said. “Nightly, we will have to be consistent to compete in the Wheat State League. We are working on multiple defenses and we hope to develop a solid rebounding core that will be able to get the put back points or get the quick out to the other end of the court.”
PBHS will open at home Friday hosting Chase County.