Lady Braves open hoop campaign at home tonight

Over time, the names change. But expectations remain the same.

Lofty expectations, at that.

Despite loss to the collegiate ranks of premier point guard Kamea Pino, who will reunite with former La Conner High teammate Anna Cook at Highline Community College this winter, the Lady Braves again appear poised to make a deep post-season run.

“You can never underestimate the value of an outstanding point guard, someone who can get you into your offense,” La Conner head coach Scott Novak said last week, “So Kamea will be sorely missed, but there are still great expectations for this year’s team.”

Here’s why.

The Lady Braves welcome back four starters and a slew of other key returnees from a club that went 18-6 and shared the NW2B title a year ago. They also benefit from an influx of talented newcomers.

La Conner opens the 2016 campaign, fresh off a couple weeks of crisp practice sessions, with back-to-back non-league home dates.

The Lady Braves host Lakewood tonight in a rare 7 p.m. Wednesday evening tipoff. La Conner entertains Granite Falls tomorrow night, also at 7.

For La Conner, all preseason optimism starts with returning All-League first-teamers Ashley Watkins and Nakiya Edwards.

Watkins had a monster fall for the La Conner High volleyball team that placed third at State. She is equally adept at holding court in basketball, Novak says of the 5’11” senior front-liner.

“Ashley is an excellent rebounder and scorer,” Novak said. “We definitely expect a big year from her, both in terms of her play and her leadership. She has the ability to take control of a game.”

With Watkins patrolling the paint, another senior — shooting guard Nakiya Edwards — will be counted upon to extend defenses with her trademark three-point accuracy.

“As with Ashley,” said Novak, “We’re expecting a big year for Nakiya. She has the most varsity experience of any of our players, and she’s been huge in some really big games for us.”

Her sister, Nakesha Edwards, is yet another returning starter who looms as a scoring threat. Always a defensive stalwart, she delivered double-digit points when needed last season, most notably in a crucial NW2B win over Orcas.

“We’re looking for Nakesha to score like that more often this year,” Novak said. “There’s no doubt she can continue to build upon what she did last season.”

Ditto Matty Lagerwey. As a freshman starter in 2015-16, Lagerwey emerged as a tenacious defender and strong rebounder, playing mostly in the paint.

She will likely face the basket more this year, according to Novak.

“With Kamea having graduated,” he explained, “we’ll probably move Matty out on the perimeter more. She has good length, athleticism, and can shoot and rebound. Her versatility is a big plus.”

Novak sees much of the same skill set in 5’-3” sophomore Kayla Hagen, a stellar soccer player, who was a spot starter for the Lady Braves as a freshman, and current frosh prospects Justine and Joanie Benson.

“I can see Kayla having a much larger role this year,” said Novak. “She’s someone who can impact a game defensively and with her athleticism.”

The Benson sisters made great impressions in summer league play, Novak said. Justine figures to earn time in the post. Joanie will see minutes in the backcourt.

Guard-forward Biruktawit Hasenbalg projects as a defensive presence and floor leader.

“She’s like Kayla in that she can impact a game with her defense,” said Novak. “And her leadership skills are very important, too.”

A pair of 5’-4” sophomore guards figure in the mix as well. Mary Cisneros adds quickness while Raven Edwards is a dependable spot-up shooter.

Sophomore Rachel Drake and freshmen Addie Reinstra and Riley Banaszak lend valuable depth to the roster.

So far Novak has liked what he’s seen of this year’s team.

“After about six or seven practices,” he said, “you could see things really coming together. The ball movement was much better and our transition on offense and defense looked a lot better, too.”

It’s a trend he hopes will continue well into March.

“Our goal from day one,” he stressed, “has been to get better every day. Every day we want to be a better team than we were the day before.”

In related notes:

• Joining Novak on the bench this season will be assistants Loran James and Jesse Edwards, both former La Conner High standouts.

• Novak credits Dustin Swan-son, who coaches La Conner’s off-season league teams, with much of the program’s strides in player development.

• The Northwest District will be awarded two berths to Regionals this year, said Novak. Last year only one team advanced. The State Tournament in Spokane has been expanded from an eight-team to a 12-team field, still smaller than the 16-team format that was in place up until five years ago.