MFL MarMac Girls Basketball Preview: Bulldogs have small, but experienced, roster

By Audrey Posten | Times-Register

The MFL MarMac girls basketball team is small, but mighty, returning a core group of players who helped secure the Upper Iowa Conference title a season ago.

Brian Bugenhagen, who’s co-head coach with Jess Schubert, said it starts with seniors Ava Kishman and Autumn Shaw. Also key will be sophomore Emme Wikner, taking on more of a point guard role. Juniors Kacie Picha and Cora Keehner and sophomores Sam Ruff and Emma Driscoll, who all saw significant minutes last year, will factor in as well.

“That’s a good nucleus for us to build on...to have some experience to come into games and be able to give us production right out of the gate,” Bugenhagen said.

The coach looks for the Bulldogs to score inside and out, getting multiple players involved to make guarding the team more difficult for opponents. Any player could score 10 to 12 points on any given night.

“We’ll kind of just hit the hot hand on a nightly basis,” he said.

Bugenhagen believes a productive summer will aid MFL MarMac this season. Players participated in a league in Prairie du Chien and several team camps.

“We probably played more basketball this summer than we have in the past,” he said. “Some of those younger kids that are stepping into some different roles probably have a little more experience, just because of our off season stuff that we’ve done.”

The Bulldogs will also benefit from fast athletes who put pressure on opponents.

“I think we can get out on fast breaks, whether it’s after a made basket or after a defensive rebound,” Bugenhagen said. “We’ve also got some new things we’re going to be putting in this year to kind of help that, because we have some athletes that can play a number of positions.” 

Health is another crucial factor. With a roster just 12 deep, MFL MarMac hopes to limit injuries. Players are stretching a lot more, to help prevent them. But Bugenhagen doesn’t want that to change how the team is wired.

“We still gotta do what we need to do on a daily basis to get better and push ourselves,” he said.

A shortened JV schedule of just two quarters per game will leave some younger players available for varsity action. Bugenhagen anticipates freshmen could see minutes here and there.

“That’s important, to keep as many kids involved and be part of the program,” he said.

MFL MarMac’s season goals include repeating as conference champs and making a postseason run. Those high expectations have long been a hallmark of the program. Just as important, though, is getting better throughout the season.

“If we’re doing that and doing the right things on a daily basis, a lot of that stuff will come,” Bugenhagen said.

The coach knows other UIC teams will be gunning for the Bulldogs after last year’s success. He anticipates competition to be strong top to bottom, so MFL MarMac will have to come to play each night.

“If you have an off night, you’re not playing up to your potential, you could get beat and make it a lot tougher season or a conference race,” he shared.

Bugenhagen and Schubert believe the players are up to the challenge. 

“We have a great, great group of girls that all want to play ball, so we’re excited to see what they all can do. And we’re just excited to be back in the gym,” Schubert said.

“The kids worked hard over the summer, and I think they’re excited to see what they can do and where we’re at,” Bugenhagen added. “But we also have to really realize how young we are. You know, we got a lot of sophomores and a couple juniors and only two seniors. Even though expectations are high, we’re young. I think that’s how it should be. You want to have high expectations and push the kids. I think kids enjoy that.”

MFL MarMac will kick off its season Nov. 26, at North Fayette Valley.