The Nouvel Catholic Central Girls’ Basketball File
The Backstory: Will Jones, Nouvel girls’ basketball coach and former coach at Gabriel Richard Catholic High School in Riverview, was replaced last season after starting the season 11-4. Nouvel replaced him with assistant Mary Jo Skiendziel, who had never been a varsity head coach.
All Skiendziel did was go 11-0, leading the Panthers to the Class C state title after a 62-40 win over St. Ignace.
Fast forward to this season. Nouvel hired Sean Williams, former boys’ varsity head coach at Mayville, St. Charles, and Carrollton. Skiendziel took the girls’ varsity job at St. Charles.
Expectations: Nouvel still has extremly high expectations entering the season. The Panthers return juniors Maddie Graham and Laurel Jacqmain and seniors Nicole Buckingham and Alex Joynt. Bregan Klein is another junior to whom Williams will turn this season.
If the Panthers play within themselves, don’t be surprised if they make it back to the Breslin Center for the third straight season.
The Midland Dow Girls’ Basketball File
What to expect: Kyle Theisen takes over at Dow, which finished third in the Saginaw Valley League last season. Former coach Bob Wellman stepped down in the spring.
The Chargers return 6’2″ sophomore Kaylee Wasco and 5’9″ sophomore Ellie Taylor. Dow also welcomes back 5’9″ sophomore Asjia Blanton, who played her freshman season at Carman-Ainsworth. Watch for Jenna Queary to have a big senior season for the Chargers.
Dow is a physical team and extremely athletic, but they are young. If the young players develop, the Chargers should finish in the top 3 in the Saginaw Valley League North Division.