On the hardwood, NP girls off to fast start
New Prague senior guard Taylor Hemann (11) pushed the ball quickly up the court to teammate Katie Boulanger in the opening half of the Trojans’ 81-54 season-opening win over Northfield Thursday, Nov. 21, in New Prague. (John Mueller photo)
With only three proven starters back from a year ago, New Prague High School’s girls’ hoops team faced a question when it started the season last week against Northfield. How would this year’s team come out of the gate compared to the previous year’s squad?
So far, the Trojans (2-0 overall, 0-0 in conference play) have enjoyed big wins heading into the Thanksgiving holiday. But things are going to get tougher quickly. NP will head west to face Hutchinson (1-0) Friday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m. NP will welcome Faribault (1-1 overall) to town Tuesday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m., at home and then take on Shakopee (0-1) Friday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., in New Prague before hosting Metro West powerhouse Chanhassen (0-0 overall) Thursday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m.
NP coach Eric Specht likes what he’s seen so far from his team. Besides Maya Kilian, Katie Boulanger and Taylor Hemann, the Trojans have received solid early contributions from players like junior guard Emily Giesen, sophomore guard Elle Neiderhiser and junior guard Catie Ambroz among others. The Trojans want to play fast, attack the front on the run offensively and pressure the ball defensively from one end of the floor to the other.
“So far, I’m very pleased at how quick they’ve caught on,” Specht said. “Our kids didn’t play together all summer. After eight practices, I’m just really pleased.”
The up-tempo style, both with and without the ball, will require more depth. Specht is pleased his players are catching on to the challenges of the faster pace. It will require players be ready to enter the game to give starters a rest.
“The games we have coming up, that’s where we’ll find out where we’re really at,” Specht said.
Trojans 82, Burnsville 36 Just as it had in the season opener, New Prague faced a bit of a test early Saturday, Nov. 23, against the Blaze before scorching Burnsville.
A burst midway through the opening half allowed New Prague to take a...
To see more on this story pick up the November 28, 2024 print edition of The New Prague Times.
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