 |
||
|
||
| Ramblers ready to roll
Fraser girls hoops’ squad eyes successful season By Jon Malavolti FRASER — Fraser High girls basketball coach Dave Kuppe is expecting big things out of his squad this season, because the Ramblers are, in fact, big. And athletic. “We have a good mix of size and speed,” Kuppe said. “We’ve probably got more big girls than we have had in awhile, but they’re athletic. All the girls are athletic. Maybe the best group of athletes that we’ve had.” But there is one drawback to the Ramblers’ physical positives —their experience. While a core of veterans adorns the roster, there aren’t many varsity minutes played among them. “What we don’t have is a lot of experience,” Kuppe said. “So if we can handle, early on, getting the experience we need, I think this team will grow and get much, much better as the season goes on.” That scenario will especially be featured in the backcourt, where senior guards Rachael Wagner and Alexis Rutter return for their third year on the varsity, but first as full-time starters. “Now it’s their turn to step up and to lead,” Kuppe said. “They both handle the ball well; they both shoot the ball well; they’re both very good defenders —they’re good athletes. So I expect a lot from those two this year.” Senior forward Kaitlyn Minchella, the team’s lone returning regular starter, will be looked upon to lead things in the frontcourt. She’ll be paired up in the paint with junior Hannah Howell, who got some varsity experience as a sophomore last season. Kuppe said he “expects big things” from Howell. “She’s very talented,” the coach said. The bench, while not loaded with experience, is high on talent. Kuppe noted that some newcomers have made their way through the program to the varsity and have helped bolster the team’s depth. “Our young kids that came up are real good,” the coach said. Wagner pointed out how the team intends to utilize its strengths. “I think we’re going to be good defensively,” she said. “We have a lot of speed and a lot of posts who are big … and can get down there and score, and get rebounds.” The Ramblers are hoping all that talent can mesh and produce another successful season at Fraser. Since 2002, the program has played in the state final (2006), semifinals (2002), quarterfinals (2003) and two regional finals (2009 and 2005) while keeping a long district title streak intact. Kuppe would like to see the team return to the Breslin Center in East Lansing, home of the annual MHSAA girls state semifinals and finals — scheduled for March 18-20 this year. “Once you get there, you want to keep getting back,” the coach said. “Our goal now every year is to get there. We came up short, came very close to winning that state championship a few years ago, and boy, we sure want another crack at it.” Standing in their way at some point may likely be Grosse Pointe North. The Norsemen knocked the Ramblers out of the playoffs last year and have won the past three Macomb Area Conference Red Division titles, with Fraser finishing second each year. While Kuppe said the team focuses on the postseason, the division provides plenty of tough practice leading up to the state tournament. “Winning the Red is not our priority; it’s the state tournament, that’s our priority,” he said. “There’s great competition in the Red. Any given night, someone can step up and beat you.” Beating North this year would be nice, though, the coach admitted. “They’re at an elite level,” Kuppe said of North. “We’re a little bit behind them. But we expect to — hope to — catch them this year.” Wagner echoed her coach’s sentiments. “We haven’t beat Grosse Pointe North in about two years, so I know everyone is really excited for that game, and maybe we can beat them this year,” she said. “That would be huge for us. A lot of people don’t think we’re going to beat them.” The Ramblers are scheduled to meet the Norsemen twice in league play this year — hosting them at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 before traveling to take on North in the final game of the regular season at 7 p.m. Feb. 24. But before all that, Fraser will play seven of its first 10 games on the road, beginning with the 7 p.m. Dec. 2 season opener at Warren Fitzgerald. Fraser’s first home game is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 against Romeo High. The team opens MAC Red play at 7 p.m. Jan. 7 against Utica Eisenhower. The Ramblers tied with the Eagles for second place in the division last season, both finishing with 6-4 marks. |
