Tornadoes Expect to be Competitive in Tough District 9C Girls Race

The Turner Tornadoes Varsity girls basketball team had a difficult campaign a season ago but with another year under their belt, this years squad expects a different outcome. Head Coach, Julie Welsh is once again at the helm with longtime Assistant, Darci Ammen joining her on the bench.

Back for her senior season is District 9C All-Conference award winner Dakota Krass. With four years of Varsity experience already under her belt, Welsh will certainly look to her for leadership on and off the court. Also back from the starting lineup a season ago is junior Hannah Richman, who will also be asked to use her experience to lead the team.

Sophomores back for their third season of Tornado basketball are Cassidy Grabofsky, Meridian Snider and Modesty Chamberlain. Freshman Bridgette Reed played big time minutes as an eighth grader a season ago and will look to play an even bigger roll this winter.

Eighth graders looking to get their first crack at high school varsity basketball are Ali Doyle, Hollie Grabofsky, Abby Grabofsky and Natalie Richman. The four will join the team following the conclusion of their Junior High season and will be able to compete right away.

The Tornadoes were clearly in a rebuilding mode a season ago after making a ton of noise in the post season for a number of years. Last years squad finished the regular season 4-14 overall, but 0-14 in District 9C play. This years squad is still young but has a solid core that can compete and a group of girls that have put in plenty of work in the off season.

Welsh addressed her teams current situation, "Our season last year was rougher than even we expected and I think that has made the girls a little more aware of the fact that they needed to work a little harder." The struggles a season ago did provide this years squad with a lot of tools to build with, "Last year was a learning year for freshman Bridgette Reed. She had to play against people her own size in high school after having her way in junior high and that was a real adjustment for her. After a really good off season she has really seemed to make the adjustment heading into this season and seems very confident."

Welsh adds that all of her six returners have utilized last years experience to get better, "Just having another year under their belt seems to have really helped everyone on the team. They are practicing with more confidence in what we are doing and seem much more motivated than they did to begin last season. Dakota (Krass) has vocalized her willingness to be a team leader."

Having that leadership at the top is big for this years team, "Having Dakota make that commitment is a huge step for her. Dakota is generally a quiet person so for her to step up and make that known, I was really happy to see that."

Turner has just two upperclassmen and both will be counted on every time they step on the court, "Hanna Richman has become very aggressive and has improved her rebounding and has shown tremendous growth inside," said Welsh.

Their underclassmen bring a lot to the table and have logged plenty of varsity minutes, "Cassidy (Grabofsky) and Meridian (Snider) have both been solid shooting the ball from the perimeter very well and they both have really stepped up their on ball defense and that is tough to do. They're going to be good,".said Welsh.

The newcomers to the team will be counted on to perform early on, "These eighth grade girls bring a lot of speed to the floor and are really good defenders, " added Welsh. "They know what it takes to win and are currently second in the conference in junior high. It's going to be fun to see how they mix with the high school girls."

Welsh is pleased with how practice has gone so far, "Right now we only have six girls in the gym, but we have had some pretty competitive drills and they are really getting after it. I have been working them pretty hard and they all have stepped up. No one is calling in or complaining they are just working hard."

The Tornadoes will be one of the first teams, if not the first to kick off the 2022-23 campaign. The first allowed day of competition according to MHSA rules is this Friday. The Tornadoes will tip off Friday morning at the Class C Showcase in Glasgow against the Nashua Porcupines at 9:00 am. Saturday morning they will challenge the Glasgow Scotties JV, again with a 9 am tip.

Turner will then have a week off before stepping back onto the court on Friday, December 16 at home versus the Fort Benton Longhorns. The Tornadoes will head to Chester on December 17 to take on the Hawks. They will close out 2022 in Dodson on December 19 against the Coyotes and at Home on December 21 against the Box Elder Bears. They will return to the court in 2023 on Friday, January 6 at home against the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds. The district 9C