Pirates eager to reclaim district, league titles

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- After a surprising 15-11 season from a young Perryville squad, the Pirates look to turn the corner and claim a district title.

Perryville returns three full-time and two part-time starters from last year's squad. The biggest loss is Amanda Nuyt, who averaged 11 points per game and set the state record for three pointers in a game with 14.

"She was just an outstanding leader," Perryville coach Vicki Lohmann said. "She is very missed this year."

The Pirates will count on last year's leading scorer, April Lorenz, who averaged 17 points per game. Lorenz is working through a torn ACL that she suffered over the summer, but should be ready when the season starts.

Lohmann said Lorenz has taken her game to a new level over the past couple of years.

"Her turnaround from freshman to sophomore was 110 percent," she said.

Lorenz has proven she can play with pain in the past, doing most of her scoring damage last year with a broken finger. Lorenz plays an inside-outside game, playing both forward and guard effectively.

Complementing Lorenz will be junior point guard Kelly Kassel and senior forward Emily Amberger. Kassel averaged five points and three assists last year, while Amberger was big on the boards and hauled in seven rebounds a game to go along with six points.

"Lorenz and Kassel have been playing varsity since they were freshmen," Lohmann said.

Amberger will provide the main presence for the Pirates down low. The team lacked a major inside scoring presence last year.

A strength of this year's team will be an exciting crop of freshman likely to challenge for varsity spots before the season is over.

Lohmann said this year's freshmen are the best group of freshmen she's had.

"They're pushing my juniors and seniors," she said. "They have such good basketball knowledge and skills."

The Pirates also return centers Kathy Morrison and Amber Leible, who rotated starts at the position last season. The pair will look to help strengthen the interior defense while providing leadership for the up-and-coming freshmen.

Also providing leadership are Amber Crites and Andrea Roth, two seniors expected to be leaders in practice.

Despite a solid record last season, the Pirates made an early exit in district competition by losing to Sikeston in the first round. The Pirates made it to the district championship the three previous years.

"Losing to Sikeston in the first round was disappointing," Lohmann said.

The Pirates will have a new challenge this season by playing in a different district, which includes the defending state champion Notre Dame Bulldogs. Perryville's first concern will be trying to capture the conference crown.

"Our main goal is to be conference champions," Lohmann said.

To reach that goal, Perryville will have to get by De Soto and Festus, two teams it had problems with in the past. The Pirates will meet these two teams in January.

Lohmann said she hopes by playing them late in the season, even though the games are on the road, the Pirates could come home with a couple of wins.

"It's a time when we should be playing well," she said.

To maximize guard talent, Lohmann is instituting a new offense this season.

"I've got a lot I'm trying to teach them," Lohmann said of the first week of practice.

Lohmann said she is confident the girls will have the offense down by the start of the season, and thinks last year's playoff disappointment will give them all the incentive they need.

"I hope that will make them hungrier," she said.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171