Everyone knows what they lost...the CBC Player of the Year in Lindsey Nartker, the league’s second highest assist leader in Danielle Franklin, and the team’s best defender in Caroline Smith.

So what lies ahead for the Tecumseh girls’ basketball team is very simple. It’s time for the Arrows to create a new identity and coach Danielle Thomas knows that even with a pair of talented sophomores returning to lead the way, it will take everyone coming together to put together another successful season.

“We are young as a core, but I think we will be more successful than a lot of people expect,” Thomas said. “We will have our ups and downs with some new kids who will be coming in who have never played varsity before. We could go through a learning curve there.”

Thomas knows that losing 41 points per game to graduation is never easy, but that just means that those who are returning will have to raise their game to have success.

“We will need more out of Presley (Griffitts) and Corinne (Thomas),” she said. “They have to score more than last year and get more shots up. The other kids will have to step up and run the floor and we will have to rely on our three guards (with Allison Berner included with Griffitts and Thomas).”

Griffitts returns as a multi-dimensional player, who is being recruited by coaches at the next level already.

“She will be sharing some of the role as the point guard,” Thomas said. “We would like to get her to play more of the three if possible with Lindsey being gone. Her ability to pass will help us tremendously this season.”

Thomas, the daughter of the head coach, could be the most deadly three-point shooter in the conference. But her role this year will change a bit where she doesn’t just fire the deep ball this year.

“She will still shoot the three but look for her to distribute more than in the past,” coach Thomas said. “She is working hard to get to the rim and is developing a midrange shot. I look for her to attack more, and her creating will help the other kids.”

Berner also returns as the player who is being counted on to lock down the defense similar to Smith last season.

“I am looking for her to fill Caroline’s spot from last year,” Thomas said. “She will be counted on a lot this year and I need more than points from her this year.”

Kirsten Nartker also returns from last year, and the junior is being counted on to help handle the ball and play a major rebounding and defensive role inside for the Arrows.

Also on the roster looking to contribute this year include seniors Cara Willardson, Hailey Beel, juniors Zoey Dysinger and Zoey Berner, along with sophomores Macy Berner, Kaitlin Sanning and Makenzie Pauley.

Thomas feels the CBC will be competitive this year, and feels her team has to stay healthy to have a chance to win the conference title this season.

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