John Raffel
Sports Scene
The basketball has been bouncing rather smoothly for the Breckenridge girls basketball team this season.
“We’ve gotten off to a really good start,” said coach Lacie Shelley, referring to a 10-5 record.
Morgan Mecomber is a senior in her second varsity season for Breckenridge.
“This year is way better,” she said. “We’re used to playing with these younger girls. My defense has gotten a lot better.”
Mecomber has scored more than 10 points in several games from her wing position, and she netted 20 points in one game. She said most of her baskets are from lay-ups and from drives and fast breaks. She said she’ll need to improve her form in order to get a higher shot percentage.
Mecomber is averaging 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds a game and is shooting 65 percent in free throws.
“She’s definitely improved on the defensive end,” Shelley said.
Victories over St. Louis and Michigan Lutheran Seminary have been among the highlights of the team season, Mecomber indicated.
Erika Wendling is a sophomore for Breckenridge and in her first varsity season. She’s been averaging 15 points and 8.5 rebounds a game.
“I’m pretty happy with it,” she said. “We’ve been winning a lot. I moved up with two other girls [Gabby Foor and Madysen Stoneman] I’ve played with since first grade. It’s been pretty fun.”
Wendling’s favorite spot for shooting usually comes from inside the paint.
“I’m really confident when I’m down low,” she said. “I’ve been good with my free throws [70 percent.] I want to have confidence in my outside shooting.”
“Our free throw shooting has been real good this year,” Shelley said. “One of the biggest challenges was getting the younger and older girls playing together. They’re starting to mesh together.”
“We play good as a team,” Wendling said. “We pass the ball around. We play good defense too.”
“At the beginning of the year, she was looking to fill a role on the team,” Shelley said. “Once she found that role, she took off with it. She’s been finding the open player on the floor.”
Mecomber and Wendling both hope to help their team get past the districts.
Mecomber also plays softball and volleyball and said softball is her top sport.
Wendling also runs cross country and track but says basketball is her favorite. “I run cross country for basketball,” she said. “I usually play on an AAU team in the spring.”