Oran girls team returns three starters

ORAN, Mo. -- After graduating four senior starters, including star center Maria Eftink and her 21 points per game, Oran's girls look like they could face a time of transition.

"It'll be a rebuilding year as far as varsity goes," Eagles coach Susan Diebold said.

The Eagles will have only three players coming back with any significant varsity experience, none of which were major contributors to last year's 13-9 squad.

"We lost all the girls that ran the show last year," Diebold said.

Returning for the Eagles will be senior forward Teresa Hodges and junior guards Erica Dirnberger and Lexie Todt. The three will be expected to lead a group of primarily freshmen and sophomore who will split time between varsity and junior varsity.

Diebold said she will have to count on her three returning starters quite a bit.

"They'll have to be the leaders now," she said.

Besides their three returning varsity players, the Eagles will have to depend heavily on senior Emily Young and a group of sophomore and freshmen players. Amanda Eftink, Jami Pobst and Tori St. Cin look to be the three sophomores that will see the most time to start the season.

Diebold said she plans to get all of her lower classmen as much time on the court as possible.

"All the freshmen and sophomores are going to play JV," she said.

Despite the lack of varsity experience, Diebold said the team will have a strong bench.

"We should be pretty deep," she said.

Besides being inexperienced, the Eagles will also have a much smaller lineup to rely on this season. Gone is the reliable inside presence of Eftink. Diebold said one of the positive aspects of having a young team is she can mold them into strong basketball players.

"I've got six freshmen to turn into what I want to turn them into," she said.

Diebold said with the strong leadership of her returning varsity players the young group of players she has could really make some waves.

"They're a pretty talented group," she said.

Oran will have its hands full in the Scott-Mississippi Conference this year with Delta, Scott City and Chaffee returning significant talent from last season.

"It will be pretty tough competition," Diebold said.

One aspect of her team that Diebold looks to focus on is the team speed. The Eagles will likely try to get out in the open court more this season.

"Our younger girls are pretty quick," Diebold said. "That's kind of what I'm looking at."

With such a young team the Eagles will have plenty of things to work on as the season gets going. One area of concern will be team defense.

"Our defense is going to have to have a little work," she said.

As the season progresses and the Eagles' sophomores and freshmen begin to establish themselves at the varsity level, Diebold said she thinks this team could start to put a run together.

"I have positive hopes for this season," she said.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

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