Lady Cats ready to build off last season’s historic finish

Louisburg senior Delaney Wright saves a ball from going out of bounds during the state tournament last season. Wright is one of three seniors returning this season.

It was a season to remember for the Louisburg girls basketball team a year ago.

The Lady Cats reached the state tournament for the first time in 47 years and went on to finish third in Class 4A. It was a great time to be Louisburg fan.

This year’s version of the Lady Cats will look a little different after losing four all-league players to graduation. Despite the losses, Louisburg still has a good foundation to build upon as they return several key pieces from last season’s team.

“Our mindset going into the season is very positive,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “The returners want to continue our successful from last year and build success with the new players.

“Practice has been going well so far. This year being my second year has been easier because the returners know what I expect out of them. The returners can also help the new players when needed as well.”

One of those veteran players is senior Jordan Mynsted. The Louisburg forward was one of the team’s top scorers from a year ago and earned second team All-Frontier League honors.

Mynsted was second on the team as she averaged almost 11 points a game and had four rebounds a contest. She will be asked to do much of the same this year.

“Jordan has been putting in a lot of work in the off season,” Lane said. “I do think she is going to be a huge offensive threat and she is going to be hard to guard. Her work has developed her game and I think it is going to show on the floor.”

Louisburg also returns its defensive stopper from a year ago in senior Delaney Wright. The Lady Cat guard was consistently asked to guard the team’s best player and will be the defensive leader this season.

“Our team is going to really rely on Delaney on the defensive side of the ball,” Lane said. “Most games she will be guard the other teams best player. Delaney is very unselfish and her spark on the defensive side of the ball always puts excitement into the team.”

The Lady Cats also bring back point guard Brianne Kuhlman, who started all of last season as a sophomore. Now as a junior, she will continue to run the offense.

Junior Adyson Ross, who provided a spark off the bench as a sophomore, will be in the starting lineup along with Kuhlman, Wright and Mynsted. Junior forward Emma Prettyman will also get the start for the Lady Cats.

Senior Sierra Hahn, along with juniors Emma Lohse, Ava Baker, Delanie Tally and Tehya Harvey, will all look to provide big minutes off the bench.

“The returners are super important,” Lane said. They have done a great job leading our team so far this season. They have been super positive and helpful with all the girls. With the positivity coming from the seniors and returners, our team is really starting to develop and I think they can all see how great we can be.

“Some underclassmen who have done a great job in practice and have really stepped up are Emma Prettyman, Delanie Tally, Adyson Ross and Emma Lohse. It’s going to be fun getting to see them get some game time this year after all their hard work last year and this summer.”

The Lady Cats hope they can end their season at the state tournament again like last year as they begin the preseason ranked No. 5 in Class 4A. Louisburg will also try for its first league crown since 2008 and its first outright title since 1999.

“This season I have big expectations for this team,” Lane said. “I would like to see us win 15-plus games again and I would also like to have a run at the league title.”

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