Burt Angeli/The Daily News Photo Florence’s Madison Neuens (52) and Kathleen Selden (34) defend Niagara’s Cassie Gill (23) in a game played last season.

FLORENCE, WIS — With experience in returning letter-winners, over half of them being starters, the Florence Lady Bobcats basketball team looks to build off of last season.

The Lady Cats (11-11 overall, 6-6 Northern Lakes Conference) posted their first season at .500 or above in 10 years.

Brad Perry will be back for his second year as the varsity coach, his third overall with the program. He is very optimistic for the upcoming season.

“Our biggest strength this year will be our experience,” said Perry, noting seven letter-winners and four starters returning from last year. “We communicate very well as a team and our quickness will help our defense. We’ll put a lot of pressure on our opponents.”

Perry noted a weakness the Lady Cats will have to overcome is depth at some positions, with five players having no varsity experience.

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

Cardinals, who return the NLC Co-Player of the Year in Tabitha Renkas, have won the conference the previous two years.

“Elcho, Three Lakes and Laona/Wabeno will also be tough, with all three of them having good experience returning this year,” Perry said.

Kendralee Milan will join Perry and JV coach Troy Margoni on the bench as a student assistant coach. The senior will miss the year due to a knee injury sustained early in the volleyball season.

“I feel if we play as a team and trust one another to make plays, we can have a very good year,” Perry said. ” With the exception of Crandon, we played all other teams in the NLC tough last year and picked up big wins on the road at Laona/Wabeno and Three Lakes.

“We know we can play with the top teams in the NLC and that should help our confidence.”

Jordyn Springer, Jenna Springer, Kathleen Selden and Madison Neuens are returning starters while Haley Behrmann, Faith Neuens and Lacey Enders lettered.

Florence begins their season on Tuesday night when they travel to non-conference rival Niagara.

On Thursday night, the Bobcats host non-conference foe Crivitz.

Roster:

# NAME POS. HEIGHT CLASS

2 Carolanne Schiurmann G 5’6″ Freshman

3 Keira Sullivan F 5’7″ Sophomore

5 Audrey Selden G 5’8″ Sophomore

10 Faith Neuens G 5’5″ Senior

12 Paige Uren F 5’9″ Sophomore

13 Haley Behrmann G/F 5’6″ Senior

14 Jordyn Springer G 5’6″ Senior

20 Jenna Springer PG 5’6″ Senior

21 Ali Seibold G/F 5’6″ Senior

22 Madison Neuens C 5’10” Senior

34 Kathleen Selden F 5’9″ Senior

44 Lacey Enders F 5’8″ Junior

Badgers return

starting five

NIAGARA, WIS — The 2018-2019 season for the Niagara Badgers and head coach Karl Lamoreaux ended in the regional finals with a loss to Wausaukee.

This year’s team returns all five starters in seniors Jasmine Racine and Cassie Gill, who are four-year varsity players. Seniors Jessica Oratch, Jaida Maki and junior Alyssa Cretton have three years of experience.

“We have a nice mix of size and speed as well as experience. These girls have always been hard workers and have been coachable,” said Lamoreaux.

The Badgers wound up 19-6 last season.

“The M&O Conference is going to be very competitive again this year and we expect to be in the mix and be very competitive” Lamoreaux added.

Miranda Cretton returns to the bench as JV coach. Allison Wells is the varsity assistant.

The Badgers begin their season Tuesday night when they host non-conference rival Florence. The Badgers travel to Goodman Thursday night to take on the Goodman-Pembine Patriots.

Roster:

#5 Jessica Oratch Senior

#10 Jasmine Racine Senior

#11 Alyssa Cretton Junior

#13 Jayden Payette Senior

#20 Destany Bourassa Senior

#21 Sydney Dunkes Senior

#22 Haley Allred Junior

#23 Cassie Gill Senior

#24 Olivia Brasure Senior

#33 Jaida Maki Senior

#40 Noelle Champagne Junior

#44 Kelsey Aho Senior