Cathedral girls will be team on move in '99-00

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm Cathedral Greyhound girls basketball team will open its season tonight when they host the Comfrey Rockets in a nonconference matchup.

This season will see the 'Hounds returning seven letterwinners and four starters from last year's squad. But injuries to two of the starters will mean some shuffling in the starting five.

That means that in tonight's matchup with the Rockets, sophomore Kristin Beranek will be the point guard with junior Cathy Boettger and senior Jackie Wolfe at the other two guards in the 'Hounds' three-guard offense.

Junior Tessa Hodapp and senior Laura Hazuka will be at the forwards.

Cathedral coach Mary Dengerud said seniors Natalia Haala and Suzy Beranek and Andrea Haala, along with junior Kari Franta, will see quality playing time.

Dengerud said that this year's 'Hound team will be one that will press on defense and run on offense.

"We will be using a lot of bodies because of our style of offense and defense," she said. "We do not have a very tall team (only one player taller than 5-foot-10) and that will be one of our weaknesses. We will not be able to compete very well against a taller team unless we beat them out front. Plus, we cannot turn the ball over a lot in games."

Dengerud commented that if the 'Hounds are to have success this season, they must have their five seniors, Natalia Haala, Suzy Beranek, Andrea Haala, Jackie Wolfe and Laura Hazuka show leadership on and off the court.

"Plus, our (four) juniors must play well and sophomore point guard Kristin Beranek has to show that she belongs there and can run the offense.

"Most of these players have seen varsity time last year as sophomores, and Kristin as a freshman, so hopefuly that year of experience will work in their favor."

But the key to the success this season, as with any basketball team, is the point guard and Dengerud feels that she has a good one in Kristin Beranek.

"She is quick and loves the game and is an excellent player," said Dengerud.

In the post spot, Dengerud looks for Hazuka to play well. "She is a tough player," she said.

"We will probably start out the season slow," commented Dengerud. "We will have turnovers and have some games that we need to adjust to. But hopefully by the end of the season, we will be able to play with the best of the teams."

First games can sometimes be an indicator to a coach of what type of team that they have and what its real strengths and weaknesses are against other players.

"I am looking for good defense tonight," she said. "We have not changed our defense a whole lot from last year and they should know our defense. I don't expect for them to be playing anything sloppy. On offense, I will not be real worried about turnovers; they will happen. But I want the defense to be solid right from the start."

Dengerud looks for Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop in the Tomahawk Conference as a favorite, and Nicollet, Minnesota Valley Lutheran and Springfield as favorites in Section 2-A.

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