Team Preview
Written by: Ryan Lee
The Columbia Wildcats made the jump from the 4A classification to the 5A classification last season, and were greeted with a 1-21 record. Entering the 2015-16 season, the Wildcats look to be a bit more competitive in their second year in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference by bringing back seven members from last year’s group and adding two additional seniors in senior combo guard, Gonya Lado, and senior guard, Miquenzie Quintero. Lado is a multi-sport athlete that will add great speed and athleticism to a varsity laden group.
Returning for Columbia this season is senior point guard, Chloe Curry, senior guard, MaQuenna Quintero, senior post, Sierra Ambrosek, junior guard, Tianna Williams, junior guard, Amanda Miller, junior guard, Cally Harper, and finally sophomore forward, Shanae Kreps.
The Wildcats will be led by a different coach again this season in Laurie Kiester, and she had this to say about her new team.
“They made huge progress over the summer. “Being able to take over the team this summer was key to our growth as a team and as a program. I’m very excited to see them continue to improve this season, and hope we can play with the same intensity and confidence that we played with over the summer.”
Offense:
Columbia is blessed to have a handful of guards this season that are quick and experienced. Most of them have varsity experience and carry with them tremendous speed. The Wildcats hope to use that speed to get out in transition to score some easy buckets. An area of improvement Coach Kiester wants to see this season is improved shooting. In the offense she has implemented, every player at every position is expected to score. This is something her team really focused on during the summer.
Defense:
The Wildcats will also use their speed on defense to supplement their offense, but defensively they would like to have the ability to switch things up and play man along with some zone. This is something they have been trying to work on to make them more flexible and dynamic as a team.
Wrap-Up:
Columbia’s motto this season is “PRIDE.” The team has to work on to restore pride to themselves, their program, and their school. These Lady Wildcats have worked hard in the offseason to do just that, and the missing ingredient to have success is to believe, according to coach Kiester. “If we can believe in ourselves and the process and be willing to work hard, we will find success this year as individuals and most importantly as a team and school.”
GAMES TO WATCH: Against cross-town rival Nampa and Skyview. Make sure you get out and watch these games, as Nampa is another school that recently made the leap up to the 5A classification.
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