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Experience Back on Hardwood

By Tom Schardin, 11/25/14, 11:15AM CST

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Lakers return top three scorers from last year

The experience and talent is there for the Prior Lake girls basketball team.

The Lakers' top-three scorers are back in seniors Shaye Barton and Sam McElwain and sophomore Riley Wheatcraft.  It has experience in the backcourt, which is always important.

The team also has some shooters back who can make open threes.

How many wins will that translate into is to be determined. But Prior Lake should be able to avoid a third straight losing season and be a factor in the tough South Suburban Conference.

"This is a very competitive group we have back," said Lakers coach Mike Gidley. "The wins and losses the last couple of years haven't reflected how hard these kids have worked.

"We have a good group back," added Gidley. "We have some experience. I think it's going to be a better year in terms of wins and losses. Each year is different, but this year there already seems to be a more comfortable, confident feel to it."

The Lakers finished 9-9 in league play last year and was 12-15 overall, losing to Chaska in the first round of the Section 2AAAA playoffs (60-48).

Prior Lake has a 2-5 playoff record under Gidley, who is entering his sixth season as coach. The Lakers have lost in quarterfinal play the last two years.

Barton will be one to watch for the Lakers in her fourth season starting in the backcourt. She led the team at 14.0 points per game last year.

"She's like another coach on the floor," said Gidley. "She's in her fourth year as a starter and it shows in practice."

McElwain also averaged in double figures at 10.6 points last season, giving the Lakers a strong post presence. Wheatcraft averaged 6.8 points and showed the ability to hit the open three. She was in double figures in the team's final three regular season games last winter.

"Sam just outworks everybody, said Gidley. "Riley had a great freshman year and a great AAU season. She can hit the three. She can score inside. She can be an elite scorer and she's good on the defensive end."

Junior Michelle Lother also returns to the backcourt. Junior Angela Bischel and sophomore Brooke Glass look to be part of the rotation as well.

Up front with McElwain and Wheatcraft is sophomore Cassandra Herubin. Sophomore Molly Heimel is also expected to help the Lakers in the front court, while eighth-grader Mckenna Hofschild will add depth to the backcourt.

"Our tallest player is 5-10, so we're going to have to play uptempo and use our bench," said Gidley.

Prior Lake opens the season in the four-team Hopkins Early Bird Tournament Nov. 28-29. The Lakers face Tartan in the first round at 2 p.m., with the winner getting the winner of Hopkins and Osseo the next day at noon. The losers play at 2 p.m.

The Lakers will be road warriors to open the season. The team's first home game isn't until Jan. 6 versus Farmington.

Following the tourney, the Lakers play at Hopkins Dec. 4 in a non-league game and follow playing at Delano (Dec. 11) and Tartan (Dec. 13).

Prior Lake opens SSC play Dec. 19 versus Shakopee. The Sabers and Farmington are new to the league this season with the two Bloomington teams, Kennedy and Jefferson, moving to the new Metro West.

Kennedy and Jefferson are still Section 2AAAA foes, as is Shakopee. Kennedy beat the Sabers in the section final last year en route to a runner-up finish at state.

Kennedy lost to Eastview in the title game. The Lightning are again the team to beat in the SSC, going 17-1 in league play last year.

The Lakers will play in the St. Olaf Showcase Dec. 29-31 and open 2015 in conference play at Lakeville South (Jan. 2), a section foe as well.