ASHWAUBENON – If the Ashwaubenon girls basketball team is going to build off its 15-10 overall mark and 11-7 Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC) record from a season ago, it will have to replace all five starters in 2025-26.
The Jaguars lost about 38 points per game in offense from their graduating seniors – Gianna Guarascio (13.6 points per game), Addy Phipps (10.1), Bella Daul (5.4), Olivia Raye (4.8) and Jordyn Whiters (4.3).
Replacing the senior-led starters, Ashwaubenon Coach Mike Radue said, won’t be easy.
“We got in a good summer of work and have some building blocks put in place, but it’s one of those things where you look forward to having a senior group like we did last year, but then they graduate,” he said. “This obviously is a different group this season.”
The cupboard isn’t completely dry, though, Radue said.
“The good news is, we get Lauren Seeling back this season from a knee injury,” he said. “As a freshman, she was honorable-mention all-conference. She missed all of her sophomore season, but she is now back as a junior. She was a starter as a freshman.”
Seeling, who averaged 8.4 points per game two seasons ago, said it’s good to be back on the court.
“Right before our season last year, I tore the ACL and the meniscus in my knee,” she said. “I did quite a bit of nerve damage, and the rehab was very challenging. Because I had played with the senior group when I was a freshman, it was hard for me not to be out there.”
Seeling said her knee is “getting there.”
“I struggled trusting the knee during our open gyms before the season started,” she said. “I don’t want my teammates to treat me differently because I’m coming back from a knee injury — I want them to push me hard so I can get better. I need to be prepared for the season.”
The Jaguars also return 6-foot junior Sophia Remiker (7.4 points, 3.8 rebounds per game).
“We’re looking for really big things from Sophia this season,” Radue said. “She put in a good body of work this summer — she’s going to have to take on a larger role. Last year, she came off the bench.”
Radue said senior Deejae Johnson also returns to the team after not playing last year.
Radue said this year’s squad is young and inexperienced in terms of varsity minutes, but it has good leadership qualities.
“They understand what it takes as far as what we’re trying to accomplish,” he said.
Before its regional game loss to Menasha to end its season last year, Radue said his team had been playing its best basketball late in the season.
“You’re always looking to get better as the season goes on,” he said. “How we’re playing in November and December won’t be how we’re playing in January and February — hopefully, anyway.”
Radue said every season, you take stock of your group, find their strengths and then build the team around that.
“That’s our job as coaches,” he said. “I think we’ll be gritty and have to play hard-nosed defense. On offense, we’ll use our size and try to get more buckets closer to the hoop. We’ll build our identity as the season goes on.”
Radue said the FRCC is always tough, but he assumes Bay Port, De Pere and Notre Dame will all have strong seasons.
“With West De Pere joining the FRCC this season, I think they can potentially give some of the top teams in the conference a nice run,” he said.
After facing Menasha, New London and Waupun, the Jaguars will face Green Bay Preble on Thursday, Dec. 4.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here