PREVIEW: Young Eagles hope to grow up quickly

     Growing up quickly will be one of the keys for the Midland High School girls basketball team as the Eagles take to the court this season.

     Midland had three all-conference players on its 8-12 team from a year ago, but all three have graduated.

     First-year head coach Jason Soper will take over a team that has four returning letter-winners, only one of them a senior.

     “Overall, we are a young team,” Soper said. “We hope to grow up fast, exceed our win total from last year, and lead the conference in free throw shooting percentage.”

     The coach said team depth is a strength for the Eagles, who have 17 girls out for the team. Back for Midland are 5-foot-6 senior guard Kirsten Schaefer, 5-9 junior forward Ari Hacke, 5-5 junior guard Ella Rupp, and 5-8 sophomore forward Allison Paulsen.

     Rupp averaged 4.6 points per game and was second on the team in steals with 41. Paulsen averaged 3.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, and tied for the team lead in blocks with nine. Hacke averaged 2.4 points and was third on the team in assists with 36. Schaefer averaged 2.2 points per game.

     Coach Soper said he expects Bellevue Marquette to be the favorite in the Tri-Rivers Conference East Division, which also includes Midland. In the West, Soper lists North Linn as the favorite.

     This is Soper’s sixth year on the Midland coaching staff, spending the previous five as assistant head coach and junior varsity coach.

     This year, Sara Fishwild will take on those two roles, and Zach Hebl will be assistant coach in charge of technology and scouting.