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LAUREL — Laurel-Concord-Coleridge head coach Marcus Messersmith welcomed three returning starters to practice when he rolled out the first ball a couple of weeks ago for the Lady Bears.
Starting his fifth year in the first seat on the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge sideline, Messersmith owns a career record of 104-84 overall.
“The girls are coming off of a great volleyball season where they won 23 games,” Messersmith said. “We are looking to build off of that momentum into the basketball season.”
Senior Mallory Eriksen joins a pair of juniors, Tali Erwin and Lainey Schutte in the starting lineup.
Eriksen averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game as a junior, Erwin put up nine points and grabbed five boards per contest and Schutte scored five points and snared five rebounds each night.
Eriksen and Erwin are returning Lewis and Clark All-Conference performers.
They will be joined by a couple of seniors who should figure into Messersmith’s plans this winter.
Toni Thompson and Delaney Johnson, both 5-feet-10-inches, will be a formidable duo inside for the Lady Bears.
Three talented freshmen should find the court this season, Rena Rasmussen, Carlie Kvols and Caida Eriksen will experience their first varsity minutes.
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge will be in the Class C2-6 Sub-District along with Homer, Oakland-Craig, Wakefield and Wisner-Pilger.
Messersmith sees Crofton, Oakland-Craig, Yutan, Clarkson/ Leigh and Archbishop Bergan as the top teams in Class C2.
The Lady Bears are set to open the season with three home games beginning with a date with Creighton on Nov. 30. One of the top teams in C2, Crofton will come to town on Dec. 1 then the Homer Lady Knights are scheduled for Dec. 5.
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge will compete in the always competitive Wayne Holiday Tournament Dec. 28-30 at Wayne State College and Wayne High School.
The Lady Bears will ring in the New Year at home with Cedar Catholic on Jan. 4. Games with Wayne, Battle Creek and Hartington- Newcastle on the road and a home contest with Wakefield highlight the January slate.
The Lewis & Clark Conference Tournament is set for Jan. 27-Feb. 5.
“A major team goal is to com pete for a conference title this year,” Messersmith said.
