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Girls basketball: Florence looking for first winning season in 12 years

FLORENCE, Wis. — Florence, seeking its first winning girls basketball season in 12 years, starts the 2019 campaign Thursday at Crivitz.

“I feel if we play as a team and use our quickness and depth to our advantage, we can be successful and possibly crack the top three in the conference,” said new coach Brad Perry, who takes over for Dave Bauer.

The Bobcats return four starters in Jordyn Springer, Cassie Larson, Jenna Springer and Kathleen Selden plus letter-winners Savannah Vassar, Sidnie Steber, Haley Behrmann, Lacey Enders and Madison Neuens. Jenna Springer and Cassie Larson received honorable mention All-Northern Lakes Conference last season. Florence graduated Alicia Gehloff.

“One of our strengths is that we should be a deep team with good experience,” said Perry, noting six of the nine letter-winners have played varsity basketball for last two years. “We are also a quick team and will look to take advantage by pushing the ball up the court and looking for transition baskets. I also feel our quickness will help our defense and we’ll put a lot of pressure on our opponents.”

Turnovers troubled last year’s Bobcats, who finished 7-14 overall and 6-6 in the Northern Lakes Conference (fourth-place).

“We need to limit turnovers and build confidence,” said Perry, Florence’s junior varsity coach last season. “We have a lot of girls coming back with a lot of game experience at the varsity level, but that doesn’t mean that experience has all been good.”

Florence has a 10-32 record for the past two seasons.

“We need to build confidence and work harder at playing as a team to turn this year around,” said Perry, assisted by former Forest Park boys basketball assistant Troy Margoni.

After trips to Crivitz and Coleman (Nov. 27), Florence hosts Laona-Wabeno on Dec. 4 to begin conference play.

“The Northern Lakes Conference will be tough this year,” Perry said. “Crandon should be the top team.”

Cardinals graduated just one senior from a team that played in the Division 4 state semifinals last year at the Resch Center in Green Bay. They return four players with All-NLC credentials including two first-teamers in Alexa Neilitz and Tabitha Renkas.

“Elcho and Three Lakes will also be tough as both were in the top three in the conference last year,” Perry said. “They have good experience coming back this year.”

This year’s roster:

SENIORS — Cassie Larson, guard, 5-4; Savannah Vassar, guard-forward, 5-8; Chloe Peterson, center, 5-9; Sidnie Steber, forward, 5-9

JUNIORS — Jordyn Springer, guard, 5-6; Jenna Springer, point guard, 5-6; Kendra Milan, point guard, 5-5; Faith Neuens, guard, 5-6; Kathleen Selden, forward, 5-10; Haley Behrmann, guard-forward, 5-6; Madison Neuens, center, 5-9

SOPHOMORE — Lacey Enders, forward, 5-6

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