Poplar’s Girls Aim For Improvements
The Poplar girls’ basketball squad appears to be on the right track for having a very good season.
Teri Christian has returned to serve as the program’s head coach. She has been involved for the squad the previous four years. Prior to that, she coached for four years and then took an eight-year break.
“I’m excited to be back with basketball,” Christian said. “I’ve always been a fan.”
Christian was a basketball standout for the Indians during her high school days. She then played for Williston State College and Dickinson State University.
She said she will require a lot of discipline and structure for her players. Her assistant coach is Cameron Martell.
“We look to push on defense and let the offense follow the lead,” Christian noted.
Returning starters for the Indians include 6-2 senior Macey Stump, who earned All-Conference second team honors last season. Other starters back are senior guard Keandra Martell, senior Dusti Marottek and senior Catherine Bear.
“We have some players who have seen quite a bit of playing time,” Christian said.
Top juniors include Teagan Escarcega and Allie Azure. Christian noted that Azure is a strong defensive player. The coach is also excited about the ability of her sophomores and freshmen. “I think we have a lot of really good athletes if they put the nose to the grindstone,” Christian said.
One goal is to make Poplar’s players stronger mentally.
“I want to put a strong head on their shoulders,” Christian said.
She sees Malta as the pre-season favorite in the league. “The rest of the teams it depends on who puts the time and effort in,” Christian added.
One of Poplar’s goals is to qualify for the divisional tournament. The Indians open their season at home against Frazer on Saturday, Jan. 2.
“I think everything is moving along nicely,” Christian said. “There are going to be a whole lot of games to be had in January.”
Schedule
Jan. 2: Frazer Jan. 5: at Hays/Lodgepole Jan. 7: Sidney (boys home, girls away) Jan. 8: at Fairview Jan. 12: Scobey Jan. 15: Malta Jan. 16: Glasgow Jan. 19: Hays/Lodgepole Jan. 22: Wolf Point Jan. 23: Harlem Jan. 28: Sidney (girls home, boys away) Jan. 29: at Dodson Jan. 30: at Frazer Feb. 5: Fairview Feb. 8: Dodson Feb. 9: at Scobey Feb. 11: at Glasgow Feb. 12: t Malta Feb. 19: at Wolf Point Feb. 20: at Harlem Feb. 25-27: District tourney (Poplar) March 3-6: Divisional tourney (Wolf Point) March 11-13 : State tourney (Billings)
