(11-25-2005)
2006
Andrean 59ers
9-13 in 2005...7th-LAC
7-14 in 2004...6th-LAC
15-9 in 2003....(tie) 2nd-DAC
19-5 in 2002...LAC regular season champs, 3A New Prairie Sectional champs
17-6 in 2001....3rd-LAC, 3A Calumet Sectional champions
PRE-SEASON PROSPECTS: Two seniors are not the majority of the experience here even though one is 5-10 big guard Suzanne Cunningham, a four-year starter. Rachel McGinty and Val Tyburski are both 5-10 returning starters at forwards. Juniors Michelle Hynes and Meagan Stickler are veterans at guard. So is 5-5 junior Courtney Pishkur but Courtney is slowed by recovery from a leg injury suffered last spring. They appear to be the equal of anyone in the Lake Athletic Conference with the possible exception of Munster.The 59ers are the sectional favorite but the entire 3A bracket state wide is trying to figure out what to do with superpower South Bend St. Joseph's Indiana's No. 1 team and a squad ranked No. 23 in the nation.
QUESTION
MARKS: Pishkur's injury leaves the 59ers a little light at guard
depth-wise. Andrean doesn't have the 6-2 pivot that Munster and Highland have.
The 59ers play a difficult non conference schedule early and there is a concern
they'll lose confidence.
STRENGTHS: Size. Andrean has three 5-10 starters in
Suzanne Cunningham, Val Tyburski and Rachel McGinty. Junior wing player
Michelle Hynes has clearly worked on her outside shooing and freshman Jen
Manchak is a rarity in high school basketball, a pure lead guard. Andrean
can bring a quality ball handler off the bench. Most teams cannot.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: The Nov. 29 game with 3A state champion
South Bend St. Joseph's. Back-to-back games with Munster and Highland Jan.
7 and Jan. 13. The LAC title could be on the line when the 59ers play at
Hobart on Jan. 28.
Varsity
coach Ken Markfull (101-60 - 7 seasons) 6 sectional, one regional
title
Assistant varsity coach: Kevin Siko, Matt Hensley and Greg Bosak
Junior varsity coach: Doug Robertson
Freshman head coach : Dan Robertson
Andrean varsity coach Ken Markfull was asked to preview and profile the 2005-2006 Lady 59ers varsity basketball team. Here's what he had to say, as compiled by Mark Smith for the Lake County Star.
Suzanne Cunningham -- 5-10 senior Guard
Suzanne is a captain for the second consecutive year. She has the best hands of anyone I've ever coached. Very effective when she puts the ball on the floor, goes left or right equally well. She is a very good passer (nine assists vs. Hebron). Suzanne needs to make herself more of a scoring threat.
Rachel McGinty -- 5-10 senior Forward
Rachel is also a captain for the second consecutive year. She works very hard every second she is on the floor in games or in practice. A leader through example and hard work, Rachel obviously cares about her team and teammates. She runs the floor well and has good shooting range for a 'big' kid. She has a very good knowledge of the game and insight into what is going on in the game. She could be a good coach some day.
Courtney Pishkur -- 5-5 junior Guard
Courtney is coming off ACL surgery in July. She has worked very in rehabbing her legs to the point where she is contributing much more now than we expected at this point. She is a very good shooter with great range. Courtney is a 'sure' ballhandler who sees the floor very well and makes good decisions with the ball. She is very coachable and more than willing to do whatever is asked of her.
Michelle Hynes -- 5-7 junior Guard
Michelle does a lot of the little things that sometimes go unnoticed. She is another very cooperative young lady that wants to please. She is always working to improve and is never satisfied. Michelle is a very good shooter with great range, she has worked hard to improve her ball-handling and is now a threat to slash to the basket. She is always smiling, always has a pleasant demeanor and is very easy to deal with.
Marie Harris -- 5-8 junior Forward
Marie does a lot of the stuff that doesn't show up in the box score. She sets great screens to get her teammates open. She does a great job of boxing out, often resulting in a teammate getting a rebound. Marie compromises taller players' effectiveness around the basket with hard work and a willingness to get physically involved. She has very good footwork. She comes to play every day.
Valerie Tyburski - 5-10 junior Guard/Forward
Valerie competes every second that she is on the floor no matter what the score or situation. She has a scorers mentality. Primarily an outside shooter in the past, she has added the ability to drive to the basket and can finish. She plays with a lot of confidence, is willing to take the big shot and has made herself into a good offensive rebounder. She loves to play and never wants to leave the floor.
Meagan Stickler - 5-8 junior Guard
Meagan has been blessed with outstanding athletic ability. She can become a dominating player on both ends of the floor, if she wants to. She sees the floor very well on the break and can deliver the ball where it needs to go. She is a very good on-ball defender. Meagan penetrates very well, mainly because she has a great first step.
Kelleigh McCrea - 5-8 sophomore Guard
Kelleigh is a highly-skilled young lady who also is a superior athlete. Her development as a high school player has been hampered by a series of injuries. Kelleigh spends a lot of time on her own refining her skills. She is a good perimeter shooter who can also slash to the basket. Her hand and foot quickness make her a solid defender. Kelleigh has a tremendous upside to her game.
Amy Blane - 5-8 sophomore Guard
Amy quietly goes about her business every day. You don't notice her, then all of a sudden she will make a play to change a game. There is no phase of her game that stands out - she is fundamentally sound in every area. She is versatile enough to play several positions and Amy is a player who can be very difficult to play against.
Jennifer Manchak - 5-2 freshman Guard
Although small in stature, Jen will fearlessly take the ball into the paint. Jen has quick feet and hands. She is a good perimeter shooter and she is learning our system and what is expected of her. As she becomes acclimated to the varsity game and gains experience, Jen will become a very effective player at both ends of the floor.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright ©
2005 USA-365.com and Meyer
Multimedia Services, a division of Meyer Broadcasting Corp. All rights
reserved.
Revised: November 28, 2005
.