Team Preview: Saline

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/saline/girls/varsity/basketball/2024">https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/saline/girls/varsity/basketball/2024</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saline finished 19-5 last season and will be looking for a conference and district title this season with some key returners back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning Starters:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saline returns its two leading scorers in Junior Guard, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='502307' first='Keira' last='Roehm'] </strong>(17 ppg), and Senior Guard, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='419539' first='Kadyn' last='Maida']</strong> (11 ppg). "With the smooth drives and athleticism of Kadyn, and the sweet stroke from 3 from Keira, this backcourt will prove tough to defend. Keira and Kadyn are both two way players that will be leaders for us on and off the court. And, both have significantly upped their games. Keira and Kadyn both recently made commitments to play at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id='502307' first='Keira' last='Roehm'] will play at Wayne State University and [player_tooltip player_id='419539' first='Kadyn' last='Maida'] will be playing at Alma College. In addition, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='983625' first='Ayla' last='Stager']</strong> returns in the post after starting every game last year and leading our team in rebounding. Ayla is that stopper that is the anchor of our defense and her length and ability to take the ball to the rim off the bounce will be key for our team. Keira, Kadyn, and Ayla all earned All Conference and All Area Honors last year and will bring much needed experience to the floor with a young, talented team." - Coach Roehm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning to the Program With New Roles:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Abby</strong> and <strong>Grace Roth</strong> will play a key role for the Hornets. "These sisters are vocal leaders and can really stroke it from 3. <strong>Megan Sweet</strong>, a junior post, will help us a ton in the paint in rebounding and defensively. Megan gained good experience last year and is primed to make a big leap this year. <strong>Abby Zsenyuk</strong> is a senior that is a glue player. Abby brings everything to the floor every day and is well respected as a leader that connects our team. Junior guard <strong>Lola Lange</strong> brings speed, quickness and toughness to the team in her first year on Varsity. She is fast!" - Coach Roehm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Underclassman:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"The Hornets will boast a young core that will be vital pieces to the team this year. Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='933469' first='Halle' last='Powell']</strong> doesn't look like a first year player. She is long, athletic, and skilled and will add to our already dynamic backcourt.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='980243' first='Myla' last='Talladay']</strong> is a freshman that brings a toughness to the paint. A 6'0" post, Myla can shoot the 3 and is smooth off the bounce finishing at the rim. <strong>Ava Nowatzke</strong> is a sophomore guard that just does all the little things. She is a fierce competitor and really gets after it on D. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751146' first='Harper' last='Backus']</strong> is a 6'2" sophomore center that will sit out this season after transferring. But, make no mistake, Harper will be playing a role making us better this season. She is a strong post with a soft touch and eagerness to learn. She shows up and goes hard every practice and is a big vocal presence on the bench." - Coach Roehm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach's Quote: </strong>With a mix of talented, experienced players and an injection of exciting new talent, the Hornets will be a fun team to watch this year! Always anchored in our Core Values - Fiercely United, Intentionally Inspired, and Gratitude - this is a group of women that is a pleasure to be around. They are one of the kindest and most dedicated groups I have worked with. For the first time in my tenure at Saline, we had 12 out of 12 players do weekly 4 player workouts not only in the spring, but in the fall as well. With many of them being multi-sport athletes, 100% participation in off season weekly workouts is a testament to their commitment. One thing is for sure, with this group of women, we are only going to get better! I expect this team to make great gains over the course of the season as our team works towards building chemistry everyday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->