Sports News

Returning three starters from last year’s 16-7 team, the Hillsboro Burro girls basketball team, which shared the District 3 regular season title last year with Hatton-Northwood and Dakota Prairie, are given an outside shot at the title this year.

The recently-published Miss Hoopster pre-season poll has the Burros trailing Dakota Prairie, Hatton-Northwood and Central Valley.

Hillsboro coach Kyle Morehart isn’t too concerned with the magazine’s annual pre-season picks.

He’s confident his team will be in the mix at the end of the season. 

Hillsboro’s starting five are as good as any in the conference, according to Morehart, who is starting his fifth year as the Burro girls head coach.

Hillsboro opens the 2007-08 season Tuesday at home against Central Cass, a team the Burros lost to last year, 43-41.

Starters returning for Morehart and the Burros are the

Evenson twins, Maggie and Joelle, and Katrina Meyer. Brittany Wilson, who has started off and on for Morehart the last two years will start for the Burros at guard against Central Cass Tuesday.

Stepping in at center will be 6 ft. junior Ashley Doeden, who played backup to Ashley Haines the last two years. Haines, who graduated last spring, led the Burros into the 2007 Region 2 tournament. Haines was a four-year starter for Hillsboro. Mary Huotari, another 2007 graduate, was a three-year starter for Morehart.

The Evenson girls and Meyer have started the last two years for the Burros.

With Wilson, the Burros have four experienced players returning,  said Morehart.

But, he acknowledged, “we don’t have a lot of depth.”

His team, he said, will need two, possibly three girls coming off the bench and contributing for the Burros to be successful this year.

Morehart’s team trademark has been its pressuring defense.

He might not have the depth to pressure a great deal this season, he admits.

It might be more of a soft half-court defense, he hints.

But, make no mistake, the Burros will run when given the opportunity.

“We’ll get out and go, and we’ll be a fun team to watch,” said the Burro head coach, who has a career 39-49 record.

Bumped from the region in the first round last year after finishing third in the District 3 tourney, Hillsboro wants another shot at the postseason.

The road to the postseason starts with the District 3 regular season schedule.

“Our goal is the regular season conference championship,” Morehart tellls. “It will be a tough road, but it’s wide open.

“If we play to our potential, we have just as good a chance as anyone.”

The Burro coach is anxious to give Ashley Doeden the opportunity to start.

The 6 ft. post player will be an impact player, Morehart is confident.

“She’s become a better basketball player and she’s finally getting her chance to start.”

Doeden’s play in the middle, said the Burro coach, “will be a key factor for us.”

Morehart wants at last eight points and eight rebounds in the paint this year from Doeden.

“I expect her to come into her own this season.”

Katrina Meyer, 5-10 senior, is the Burros’ established threat from the outside. She hit 26 treys last year.

Meyer has something to prove this year, according to her coach.

“She’s our leader on and off the court. And she’s had a good career up to this point.” But she can do more, Morehart knows.

She looks like she’s ready to play, said the coach.

Joelle Evenson was the Burros’ most consistent player on the court last year. The 5-6 guard averaged 8 points a game in the 2006-07 season.

“She really raised her level of play,” Morehart said.

Sister Maggie Evenson scored 5 points a game last year. She’s another player with something to prove, said her coach. “Maggie is shooting the ball extremely well and her confidence level is where it should be.

“She’s a very talented basketball player.”

At 5 ft. 1 in, Brittany Wilson, when she’s focused, said her coach, “is as tough to defend as anyone in the district. She’s another gifted player.”

Wilson and Meyer are the Burros captains this year.

Morehart will dress nine players in Tuesday night’s home- and season-opener.

Other players on the varsity roster are Rachel Meyer, 5-7 freshman; Rebecca Heinitz, 5-5 sophomore; Mikkaela Toenies, 5-7 freshman; and Tessa Svaleson, 5-7 junior.

Svaleson and Toenies are expected to see action off the bench.

Ashley Haines, Hillsboro’s all-state selection last year, averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds for the Burros in her last year. She’s Hillsboro’s all-time leading scorer.

Mary Huotari averaged 9 points and 4 steals a game last season.

Central Cass, which finished the season last year at 13-8, is coached by Barb Kraft.

The Miss Hoopster has the Squirrels finishing fifth in District 2 behind Northern Cass, Kindred, Maple Valley and Oak Grove.

The Burros play at Fargo Oak Grove Friday night and at Climax the following Tuesday (Dec. 3).