Notre Dame girls basketball team returns experienced squad in 2015-16

A year ago, the Notre Dame girls basketball team was basically starting over. Having to replace 11 players, the Bulldogs understood a challenge lay ahead. A year later, it's a mirror image, as the program returns every starter and all but one player from the roster. But head coach Renee Peters carefully frames 2015-16 as the next phase of a rebuilding project -- an evolution of the challenge -- rather than a sudden leap forward.

"Last year was my first losing season in 13 years, so I had to readjust a little," Bulldogs coach Renee Peters said. "It was, 'Wait a minute, this isn't comfortable.'

"Last year was a growing year, and this is Phase 2. *... Realistically, if we're executing and more competitive, I want to feel good about that."

Leading that charge will be a unit that won't lack for continuity. Sam Brennan, Hayli Chapman, Maddie Urhahn, Lexi Welter and Allie Ziegler are all expected to play big roles this season, and they don't lack for experience, though Urhahn and Chapman are the only two upperclassmen of the group.

"Both our volleyball and softball teams are coming off incredible years, and four of my five are coming in (from that)," Peters said. "These are good athletes. We've just got to see if we can translate that to gym."

According to Roberts, Brennan, who led Notre Dame with 9.6 points per game a year ago, is a leader by example, Urhahn an inspirational and spiritual leader and Ziegler -- the team's top rebounder -- a vocal leader. They've helped the team build a chemistry that should be one of its strengths. That became apparent during a strong offseason that featured a stint at a University of Memphis camp. The coach believes she has the players to run the up-tempo program she prefers, and says the comfort level of everyone involved is growing.

"They were seeing each other and had more of a familiarity," Peters said. "We're still relatively young, but I think this year we'll be able to expand what we do a little bit. Hopefully be in a more competitive situation. Last year we were trying to keep our head above water and our schedule is such that it's difficult. We took a couple bumps last year, but it made us a little stronger."

Although last year was an eye-opener for Peters, her team is still working toward the same goals that have traditionally marked the Bulldog program. Whether those goals are attainable this campaign will depend on how quickly progress sets in.

"We don't want to settle for the bottom half," Peters said. "The ultimate goal is -- to make it to that district championship game. We don't want to settle."

Players to watch

The focal point for the Bulldogs will continue to be Brennan, who is just a junior but led the team in scoring and playmaking last winter. She'll reprise that role.

"She's just an incredibly good athlete," Peters said. "She's coming off a season working really hard on and off the court."

Welter is another who will form the team's core, entering her second year as a starter as just a sophomore. She was the team's best player on the boards in 2014-15, averaging 5 rebounds per game.

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Class 4 District 1

Conference

SEMO Conference

Head coach

Renee Peters

(9th year)

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ROSTER

No. Player Year

10 Sam Brennan 11

12 Faith Essner 11

15 Maddie Urhahn 12

21 Cheyenne Sander 12

22 Allie Ziegler 11

23 Samantha Feeney 12

24 Rachel Conrad 11

25 Hayli Chapman 12

31 Brooke Blankenship 10

33 Sydney Newell 11

45 Lexi Welter 11

STARTERS GONE

None

STARTERS BACK

Sam Brennan

Lexi Welter

Allie Ziegler

Hayli Chapman

Maddie Urhahn

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SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

11/30 Farmington Girls Tourn.

12/12 St. Joseph's Acad. 3 p.m.

12/17 @Chaffee 7:30 p.m.

12/20 Kelso Supply Holiday Classic

1/7 Fredericktown 7:15 p.m.

1/9 @Ursuline Acad. 1 p.m.

1/14 Sikeston 7:30 p.m.

1/15 @Cor Jesu Acad. 7:30 p.m.

1/21 @Jackson 7:30 p.m.

1/23 @Nerinx Hall 2:30 p.m.

1/25 Farmington 7:30 p.m.

1/28 Queen of Hearts Tourn.

2/1 @Cape Central 7:30 p.m.

2/4 @Saxony Lutheran 7:30 p.m.

2/8 Dexter 7:30 p.m.

2/13 John Burroughs 2 p.m.

2/18 @Neelyville 7:30 p.m.

2/22 Kennett 7 p.m.

2/25 @Poplar Bluff 7:30 p.m.

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LAST SEASON

LEADERS

Points: Sam Brennan (9.4 ppg)

Rebounds: Lexi Welter (5.0 rpg)

Assists: Brennan (5.2 apg)

RECORD

8-17