With experience returning, Lady Grizz look to step up

As Justin Moss begins his second season as the head coach of the Rocky Mountain Lady Grizzlies, he is looking for his team to improve upon a successful 2023-24 season that saw the Lady Grizz forge a 16-12 record and advance to the state tournament for the eighth year in a row.

A year ago, the Lady Grizz had just one returning starter in senior MacKelle Moss, and she has graduated, along with Rylee Winland. This year the team is blessed with four returning starters: seniors Shelby Wambeke (all-conference), Brittly Boettcher and Tarynn Schoening and junior Lauren Bassett (all-state), which gives the team a head start heading into the season, Coach Moss said.

“Our girls are more confident in what we’re doing,” Moss said. “We have good physicality, but confidence is the main thing. With four returning starters, they’re a lot more confident in what we do and in their ability. It’s fun to see.”

There are 15 players out for the team this season, and the classes are well balanced: four seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen. Senior Sharlotte Hanusa, junior Keylee Christiansen and sophomore Kaysie Cooley join the four returning starters with varsity experience a year ago.

Bassett was selected for the Class 2A All-State team and led the team in scoring a year ago. Like Boettcher, she is a versatile, physical player who can play inside or out, with Wambeke, Schoening and Christiansen interchangeable at the point, two guard or wing.

Moss said Schoening should take a step forward after a year in the system, noting, “I’m looking for good things from her. Brittly and Lauren are very physical and experienced. We’re playing good inside-out ball, and we’re making shots.

“I’m excited about Keylee. She’s playing with a lot more confidence. Taking that step from sophomore to junior has helped her. And Shelby understands what we want her to do and is playing with great energy, as well.

“We have four girls who have played point guard before, so we’re more interchangeable and playing with a lot more tempo. Lauren can handle the ball, too, so we have five girls (returning) who are comfortable with the ball in their hands. And Kaysie Cooley came off the bench last year. She and Halle (Grandalen, sophomore) had a great summer, Charlee (Welling, sophomore), too. Those girls went to camps and are improving.”

Moss likes his team’s versatility with Boettcher and Bassett playing inside or out, depending on the matchup, and he said Hanusa is doing good things, bringing physical play and positive energy to practices daily. He added that Grandalen grew about three inches over the last year and now stands at 5-10, matching Bassett as the tallest player on the team, with Schoening providing length on the wing at 5-9, along with Boettcher and Christiansen at 5-8.

Junior Layla Gardner will see time at guard and “has a nice little shot,” Moss said, adding that junior Emma Sponsel is “pretty physical” inside.

Also on the team are freshmen Leah Haslem, Eliana Puentes, Kennedy Brimhall and Brooklyn Larsen.

“We plan on playing with more pace and better tempo with all of those ballhandlers on our crew,” Moss said. “We’ll play both man and zone (on defense) and should be able to press a little bit, too. We’re not necessarily tall, but we have length (players with long arms).”

Moss is pleased to have all three of his assistant coaches returning in Ryan Boettcher, Jamie Cooley and Stacey Haslem.

Opening tournament

The Lady Grizzlies will travel east this weekend to the combined Coal Miner’s and Herder Classic Tournament in Wright, Gillette and Glenrock. The Lady Grizz will open up Friday in Gillette at Twin Spruce Junior High, meeting Sundance at noon and 1:30 p.m. (JVs), then travel to Wright to meet host Wright at 5 and 6:30 (JV) p.m.

Saturday in Glenrock, the Lady Grizz will meet host Glenrock at 10:30 a.m. at Glenrock High School and Kaycee at 5 and 6:30 p.m. (JVs) at Glenrock Intermediate School.

Rocky Mountain will host intradistrict rival Burlington Tuesday at 4 (JVs) and 5:30 p.m.