Kelly Lady Hawks navigating season of change
With the graduation of six key seniors, the Kelly girls’ basketball team faces a season of overhaul.
The departure of these players, who accounted for nearly 90 percent of the team’s scoring, has left a significant void. Now, a core group of three returning seniors—Gwen Essner, Paige Klipfel, and Blaire Riley—will be tasked with leading a talented group of freshmen through a season of uncertainty and opportunity.
“Goal-wise, we keep it very simple: We want to win,” said third-year Kelly coach Matthew Blissett. “We’ll learn from every loss to keep moving towards more wins.”
Essner, known for her intelligence and composure, will continue to energize the team from the point guard position, bringing both defense and strategic insight.
Riley, back on the court after two seasons sidelined by injury, adds much-needed strength to the post.
Klipfel complements this with her dual role in defense and outside shooting, providing versatility that will be essential for the team’s success.
Blissett emphasizes the importance of these seniors in setting the tone for the team. Their experience and leadership are expected to help bridge the gap between the seasoned players and the incoming freshmen, who, despite their talent, lack high school-level experience.
The infusion of fresh talent comes from five promising freshmen who nearly achieved an undefeated season last season as eighth graders. Cecily Hall, Peyton Ratley, and Lettie Glenn are set to fill guard positions, with Hall sharing point guard duties with Essner.
Ratley and Glenn are expected to bolster the team’s defense.
Ratley, who impressed with her athleticism during Kelly’s inaugural volleyball season, will take on challenging guard matchups.
“The good thing about that freshman group is they already understand that accomplishment in junior high won’t translate unless the work ethic comes with it,” Blissett said. “As crazy as it sounds, our advantage is that we don’t have one. The girls understand we may not have as much size, experience, or depth as any other team. So we are going to outwork every opponent night after night.”
Adding to the mix are freshmen Kaylee Still and Rylee Burns, who bring much-needed scoring versatility and can play both inside and out, giving the team a variety of ways to score.
The team’s style of play will be fast-paced, with an emphasis on conditioning.
“Our game is going to be fast-paced,” Blissett said. “I expect us to make mistakes, but those mistakes will be covered by our hard-working mentality. We move a lot on the offensive and defensive side, so our conditioning has to be second to none.
Kelly opens the season at the River City Classic on Dec. 2 and will compete in Class, 3, District 2 this season.