Aquinas Catholic girls basketball look to take next step with young core
Aquinas Catholic girls basketball entered last season having won a combined six games the two previous seasons.
In Jason Campbell's first year as head coach, the Monarchs exceeded that win total finishing 7-16.
They'll look to continue building on last season's successes this winter with a talented, young core returning.
"Ready to go. Really excited. Best time of the year. I know the girls are excited as well. We had to wait a little bit as far as to start shootarounds and things like that and they're ready to get in the gym," Campbell said. "Last season was good. We were competitive in most of our games. We got better. We were very young. We're just looking to probably take that little bit of a next step this year."
The next step in the team's progression, Campbell said, is to win more games and become more competitive. Of the Monarchs' 16 defeats, seven were decided by less than 10 points.
"Instead of just trying to hang in there, we want to dictate the pace," Campbell said. "We want to dictate on what we're doing, make people adjust to us instead of us adjusting to them."
Aquinas gained confidence last season. After losing to Clarkson/Leigh 64-36 in early January, the Monarchs pushed the Patriots in the subdistrict semifinals leading by eight at halftime before losing by nine.
It defeated Howells-Dodge, who placed third at state in Class D-2 last season. The Monarchs also lost to Archangels Catholic, a state qualifier in D-2 last season, by just six points.
"It was a big confidence builder, but these girls know what they're capable of," Campbell said. "They practice hard and they play a lot. They're aware of what they can be if they put in the work."
Aquinas received big contributions from junior Madison Vandenberg and sophomore Jordyn Vandenberg. Madison averaged 8.5 points per game last season scoring 18 points in two games. Jordyn scored 13 points in a win over Osceola last season.
"They're two completely different players, however, they bring a lot of energy," Campbell said. "They bring kind of a calmness to the group. Jordyn kind of calms people down. Maddie's a ball of fire. She's running around. A lot of energy."
Monarchs sophomore Riley Campbell finished as one of the top scorers on the team last year averaging 7.4 points per game last season. Riley scored 19 points in two games last season.
"She (Riley) was consistent, but she was a freshman. There were some growing pains there. She needs to continue to get a little bit stronger," Jason said. "She's worked on that kind of stuff throughout the offseason. She plays a lot of basketball, so we'll see what happens this year. Hopefully it translates being more of a leader even though just a sophomore."
After the graduation of starters Bianca Romshek and Jordyn Bohuslavsky, Aquinas will need others to step in and fill the void.
That group includes junior Ainsley Wollmer, who scored 10 points in the subdistrict semifinals last season. Monarchs sophomore Sarah Coufal, senior Miriam Frasher and junior Danica Bohuslavsky also will play key roles.
"It's going to have to be a group effort. I think we have the girls to do it," Jason said. "The girls who played a lot last year are going to make steps as far as improvement wise. You're going to see Sarah Coufal make a huge step and freshman Faith Samek, who is going to be very important in what we do as well.
"Ainsley (Wollmer) was great. She's still figuring out as far as the physicality goes, but she does whatever you ask of her and she's going to be instrumental in how far we could go this year. Miriam (Frasher) brings great athleticism to our group. I look for her to be a difference maker for us."
Aquinas opens the season on Dec. 6 versus Raymond Central. Jason said staying injury free is going to be a key to success this season.
"Sky's the limit," Jason said. "If they buy into what we're trying to do and everyone plays their roles and has a good time and we stay injury-free, we're going to have a lot of success."
