By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
There will be no easing into the 2022-23 basketball season for the Okarche Lady Warriors.
Projected as a Top 5 team in Class A, Okarche opens the season with a three-game non-conference gauntlet, beginning at Preston Friday evening. Tipoff is set for 6:30.
The Lady Pirates are expected to be a Top 10 in Class 2A. OHS then travels to Calumet Nov. 8 before opening its home slate with a matchup against perennial Class B power Lomega Nov. 11.
“You throw a lot at your team right away. It is nerve racking, but it’s good to challenge them early,” head coach Haley Mitchel said. “In Okarche, you’ve got to be ready for a challenge every night.”
The Lady Warriors appear to have the right pieces in place to make another deep postseason run. Okarche has a bulk of its scoring punch back from last season’s team, which finished 26-4 and reached the state semifinals.
Projected Starters
G Jadyn Rother, Jr.
G Jalie Rother, Sr.
G Ruby Vandendriessche, Jr.
F Tyson Endres, Sr.
C Emma Stover, Sr.
Three Rivers Conference MVP Emma Stover leads the way after averaging almost 16 points per game last season. Versatile guards Jalie Rother and Jadyn Rother also return as multi-year starters. Tyson Endres, a key reserve last season, is expected to move into the starting lineup and brings plenty of experience and toughness.
“They know the expectations and they know what needs to be done,” Mitchel said. “We return a lot of leadership and we’re excited to see what this team can do.”
Mitchel said the team focused on skill development this offseason and that the Lady Warriors made some real improvement.
“We’re going to make sure everyone can handle the basketball. We want to be prepared for anything that is thrown at us,” she said.
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