Way-Too-Early Season Preview: Grafton
The Grafton Spoilers reached the state championship game last spring, losing to Langdon/Edmore/Munich in the state title. Expectations will be sky high next winter, as they return all five starters from that team. Go-To Player: Carlee Sieben Carlee Sieben 5'8"…
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Continue ReadingThe Grafton Spoilers reached the state championship game last spring, losing to Langdon/Edmore/Munich in the state title. Expectations will be sky high next winter, as they return all five starters from that team.
Go-To Player: Carlee Sieben Carlee Sieben 5'8" | PG Grafton | 2021 State ND
Sieben was a force last year for the Spoilers, averaging better than 19 points and five assists, conducting an efficient and explosive offense all season. She’s a terrific multi-level scorer, as she can shoot it from deep, get to the paint and facilitate at a high level. Grafton has excellent balance, so Sieben won’t have the whole thing on her shoulders. But when they need a bucket, she’s the one they count on to deliver.
Breakout Candidate: Walker Demers Walker Demers 6'3" | C Grafton | 2023 ND
Demers started and nearly averaged a double-double for the Spoilers as a freshman, and she enjoyed something of a breakout in the Class B State Tournament. She’s terrific defensively, and does a great job rebounding both ends of the floor. As she gets stronger and more experienced, she’ll have a chance to be a dominant force.
Question: What can’t the Spoilers Do?
There’s a reason this Grafton team will head into next season ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the preseason. It’s awfully complete. It has a terrific point guard in Sieben. It’s got an anchor in the middle with Demers. It has experienced difference-makers with Cassie Sieben, Reagan Hanson Reagan Hanson 5'8" | SG Grafton | 2022 State ND and Julia Dusek Julia Dusek 6'0" | CG Grafton | 2021 State ND . The Spoilers have size, they can shoot it, they space the floor, they share the ball, they defend at a high level.
Season Outlook
The Spoilers are going to be on a very short list of state title favorites for next season. There just aren’t a lot of holes with this team. They’ve got a winning culture and are well-coached, so don’t expect them to experience a lot of peaks and valleys when it comes to their consistency. It’s a team that, in theory, should be hungry to get back to a state championship after getting there last year – and it’s good enough to win it.