PREP GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Role players to be key for Mount Baker
Coach: Kim Preston
Last year: Finished season with a 14-12 record, going 5-7 in the Northwest Conference. ... Qualified for district tournament in three-way tiebreaker with Nooksack Valley and Meridian. ... Went 2-2 in the district tournament to qualify for bi-districts. ... Went 1-1 in bi-districts, ending season with 62-25 loss to Lynden Christian.
Players to watch: Emily Brandland (sr., F), Sam Jacoby (sr., F), Kylee Engholm (sr., G), Danielle Tyler (fr., G)
Outlook: Last year’s All-Whatcom County Player of the Year, Emily Yost, graduated in the offseason and most would think that means the Mountaineers’ success this season rests solely with Emily Brandland (14.8 points per game). While she’s definitely the star, a new coach, freshmen talent and strong returners give Mount Baker plenty of hope this season. “We want to have a deep bench,” first-year coach Kim Preston said in a phone interview. “On any given night, we’d like to see contributions from two, three, four people and not the same kids every night. I think they have the ability to do that.” Preston noted that getting to the basket has been a point of improvement for Brandland this offseason and that will provide openings for Sam Jacoby and McKenzie Yost while Kylee Engholm and freshman Danielle Tyler handle point guard duties. With opponents’ emphasis likely being on Brandland, the senior has taken on a team-first mentality, Preston said, and that’s essential for the Mountaineers.
Roster
Player | Ht. | Yr. | Pos. |
Kylee Engholm | 5-3 | Sr. | G |
Emily Brandland | 5-11 | Sr. | F |
Sam Jacoby | 5-7 | Sr. | G |
Summer Millman | 5-3 | Jr. | G |
McKenzie Yost | 5-10 | So. | G |
Breeanna Hesyck | 5-5 | So. | G |
Sage Kaiser | 5-8 | So. | F |
Kylind Powell | 5-9 | Fr. | F |
Danielle Tyler | 5-3 | Fr. | G |
Haylee Malone | 5-3 | Fr. | G |
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Time |
Dec. 1 | Meridian | 7:15 p.m. |
Dec. 3 | at Ferndale | 7:15 p.m. |
Dec. 5 | at Port Townsend | 1:45 p.m. |
Dec. 7 | Coupeville | 7:15 p.m. |
Dec. 9 | Bellingham | 7:15 p.m. |
Dec. 11 | Oak Harbor | 7:15 p.m. |
Dec. 15 | at Sehome* | 7:15 p.m. |
Dec. 17 | at Sedro-Woolley* | 7:15 p.m. |
Jan. 5 | Blaine* | 7:15 p.m. |
Jan. 11 | Ferndale* | 7:15 p.m. |
Jan. 15 | at Burlington-Edison* | 7:15 p.m. |
Jan. 19 | Lynden* | 7:15 p.m. |
Jan. 22 | at Nooksack Valley* | 6 p.m. |
Jan. 25 | Anacortes* | 7:15 p.m. |
Jan. 29 | at Bellingham* | 7:15 p.m. |
Jan. 30 | at Meridian* | 7:15 p.m. |
Feb. 2 | at Squalicum* | 7:15 p.m. |
Feb. 4 | Lynden Christian* | 7:15 p.m. |
*NWC game
This story was originally published November 28, 2015 at 9:47 PM with the headline "PREP GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Role players to be key for Mount Baker."