By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

HEAD COACH

Jim Collins

6th year

28-123 career record

THE TEAM

   • Coaching Staff: Dougle Hankins, JV; Zach Burns, middle school; Larry Jones, middle school.

   • 2022-23 Record: 7-16 overall; 6-12 Northeastern Athletic Conference.

   • Returning Letterwinners (3): Mariah Woods, sr.; Briah Daniel, sr.; Abby Simpson, sr.

   • Letterwinners Lost (2): Sara Barker, Angelina Digrino.

SEASON OUTLOOK

The Bombers return two of their primary statistical leaders in seniors Mariah Woods and Briah Daniel.

Both can have a major impact on the team’s success this season.

Collins said he wants his team to play “free and fast,” but must do it “playing as one unit.”

GUARDS

Woods led the team in scoring a year ago at 14.5 points per game and was second on the team in rebounds at 8.3 per game.

Defensively, Woods was also active and led all girls basketball players in Portage County with her 4.3 steals per game.

Daniel averaged just under 10 points per game and led the Bombers with her average of 9.6 rebounds per game.

Both Woods and Daniel have a chance to eclipse the 1,000-point milestone by season’s end.

An addition to the backcourt for the Bombers is Quinn Justham.

“Quinn is very athletic and has very high energy.”

FORWARDS

The team leader is found in the frontcourt in Abby Simpson.

“She is definitely the glue girl on our team.”

Simpson was third on the team last year at 8.0 rebounds per game, giving the Bombers three different players that averaged at least eight rebounds per game (Simpson, Woods, Daniel).

Joining the roster this season is Lorena De Oliveira (6-foot).

De Oliveira is a foreign-exchange student from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, and she was a leading contributor on the Bombers’ volleyball team this past fall.

“She will be a big help to us in the paint.”

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Mackenzie Blockinger, fresh.; Brielle Jones, soph.; Sydnie Sweet, soph.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

The Bombers’ low roster size has Collins pointing directly toward staying healthy as his primary concern.

LEAGUE OUTLOOK

Collins said he believes that the NAC championship will likely run through either Badger or Bristol.