Beavers Look To Chase RVC South Leaders This Season

Members of the 2016-17 Wilton girl’s basketball team are front row, l-r: Kaylee Ford, Hannah Christensen, Kali Milder, Falloyn Grunder and Shelby Oien. Middle row: Taylor Goldermann, Aubrey Putman, Emily Lange, Kortney Drake and Lexi Maurer. Back row: Head coach Jeremy Putman, Linsey Ford, Hallie Speed, assistant coach Samantha Reid, assistant coach Tom Austin. Photo by Ryan Stonebraker. 

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

WILTON — There is a lot of excitement in Wilton for their girl’s basketball program this winter and rightfully so.  The excitement started this past summer with a fine softball season and carried over into the volleyball season.  This past fall the Beaver volleyball team netted 32 wins and a state ranking in the 2A IGHSAU poll.  That momentum could roll into basketball as many of the players on those teams will be playing basketball.  Add in senior Kaylee Ford’s run to the state cross-country meet, and you can see why there is excitement.  The Beavers hope to crack the double digit win total for the first time since a 14-8 season in 2009-10, six seasons ago.

“Our kids have raised their play.  They expect success in basketball this winter just like the other seasons before this.  We have had good softball and volleyball seasons and our kids are ready to keep it going into this season,” said Wilton head coach Jeremy Putman.

The Beavers return their top four scorers and many other leaders or near leaders in all of the measureable statistical categories.  Wilton will have four seniors in Kaylee Ford (2.4 ppg, 26 assists, 20 steals), Hannah Christensen (4.9 ppg, 73 rebounds, 30 assists, 30 steals), Hallie Speed and Falloyn Grunder who returns to the team after missing most of last year due to injury.  Ford and Christian were starters along with returning starters Kortney Drake (12.7 ppg., 89 rebounds, 64 steals, 54 assists) and Emily Lange (10.2 ppg, 141 rebounds, 39 blocked shots).  Drake led Wilton in scoring and Lange was second while Lange led Wilton in rebounding and blocked shots.  Drake went to the free throw line 103 times and led Wilton in steals and assists.  Drake and Lange earned all-conference honors last year.

Other returners are Aubrey Putman (10.1 ppg, 123 rebounds), Lexi Maurer (1.5 ppg), Kali Milder and Linsey Ford.  Taylor Goldermann also returns after injury for her

“With the returners we have, we have a lot higher expectations this season. Our athletes will help.  We are quick.  Our main players are kids that play multiple sports.  They will take us a long way,” said Putman.

Putman said that the Beavers put in new sets for offense over the summer and they have really concentrated on beefing up their defense and rebounding this preseason with an eye toward cleaning up their fundamentals.

Putman listed two concerns that need to be fixed this year and that is defense and rebounding.  Both have been down in recent seasons after being a staple of the program.

“We were a poor defensive team last year.  We have worked a lot on our defense this preseason, defensive drills and rebounding and I think we will be better this year.  We are going to score a lot of points this year but, we can’t give up the amount of points we did last year or we are not going to have the season we think we can,” said Putman.

“As far as rebounding, we usually are a good team.  However, last year we took a dip.  Rebounding sparks our fast break, we are a good fast breaking team, if we can’t play defense and get rebounds, we are not going to be able to get out and run,” he said.

Wilton will have five home games before Christmas break with West Branch, Cascade, Mid-Prairie, Iowa City Regina and Durant.  The Beavers will play six home games after Christmas break.

Non-Conference games on the Beavers schedule are at Columbus Junction on December 1, at home against Wapello on Saturday, January 7 and home against Louisa-Muscatine on Monday, January 30.

Wilton Beavers

2015-16 Record: 5-19

2015-16 RVC Record: 1-17

2015-16 Postseason: 2/13 - Wilton 40, Louisa-Muscatine 35; 2/16 - West Branch 68, Wilton 33

2015-16 All-Conference RVC Picks: Kortney Drake - South Divisional Team, Emily Lange - Honorable Mention.

Returning Starters (4): Kaylee Ford (2.4 ppg), Kortney Drake (12.7 ppg), Hannah Christensen (4.9 ppg), Emily Lange (10.2 ppg).

2016-17 Roster: Seniors — Kaylee Ford, Falloyn Grunder, Hannah Christensen, Hallie Speed.  Juniors — Lexi Maurer, Taylor Goldermann, Kali Milder.  Sophomores — Kortney Drake, Emily Lange, Shelby Oien, Aubrey Putman, Linsey Ford.