After relying heavily on seniors last season, Whitehall has a younger roster this winter, but coach Brian Milliron hopes up-and-comers prove able to carry the load.
The Vikings aren’t fully without experience, as four-year varsity player Lexi Daggett is back after leading the team in scoring a season ago. One of the Vikings’ top shooters, Daggett will lead the team on both ends of the floor. Senior Sidney Shepherd, who didn’t play last season but was a solid contributor to the 2023 district championship team, will bring athleticism and rebounding to the forward position. Another senior, Lianne Fagan, started for most of last season, begins the season as the primary ballhandler, a role she will likely share with freshman Peyton Schultz. Grace McDowell and Megan LeaTrea are not experienced varsity basketball players, but both have a lot of success from other sports to draw upon.
“We lean on our seniors a lot at Whitehall, and the five we have this year will be the catalyst for everything we do this year,” Milliron said. Whitehall also looks for a leap forward from sophomore Clare Westerlund, who showed flashes of very strong play as a freshman, averaging nearly 20 minutes per game. Her role should significantly increase.
Schultz is one of a few up-and-comers who could raise Whitehall’s ceiling with her play.
“(She) will be asked to handle the ball and make decisions at a young age and we believe she is capable of doing that,” Milliron said of Schultz.
Junior Janie Fagan, who saw some time last year, should play more minutes this season. Fagan’s size and rebounding ability will be helpful. A trio of juniors - Drew Buckner, Mansah Waller and Emma Decker - move up from the JV and each should contribute. An intriguing newcomer is junior Kate Beda, new to the basketball program but a great athlete, as evidenced by her all-state award in girls soccer last spring.
The Vikings play an ambitious schedule and in fact will not play a non-conference home game. South Haven, Allendale and Fruitport are among the larger schools the Vikings will go up against this year. The focus, though, will be the West Michigan Conference Lakes schedule; Fremont and Ludington were the top two teams a season ago.
”Our team goals continue to be the same; we hope to fight for a WMC title and for a district title,” Milliron said. “The biggest keys for this to happen will be for girls to fill the void of the four graduated seniors.”
