Girls basketball preview: Paynesville returns plenty of experience
Dec. 2—PAYNESVILLE — The Paynesville girls basketball team hopes its experience can lead to a successful season in 2023-24.
The Bulldogs, who finished with an 11-14 overall record and a 6-8 mark in the Central Minnesota Conference in the 2022-23 season, return four starters to their lineup although it will be without All-Area Third Team member and All-CMC First Team pick Katie Uhlenkamp due to graduation. She averaged 12.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for Paynesville.
"Bulldog basketball is excited for this season with an experienced team and a style of play that is fun to watch," said Paynesville head coach Jake Heimerman. His staff includes Brad Skoglund, Amanda Ruegemer and Kendra Miller.
Leading the way for the Bulldogs are their pair of All-CMC Second Team picks from the season prior in Emma Flanders and Rayna Spanier.
Flanders, a 5-foot-11-inch forward and lone senior for the Bulldogs, averaged 7.0 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest. Spanier, a 5-7 junior guard, averaged a team-best 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
"Rayna is an electric scorer and when she is on one she is on one," Heimerman said. "Emma has ups around the rim and can be a daily double-double."
Also back as starters are junior guards Grace Roberg and Kylie Pauls.
"Grace is a vocal and defensive leader," Heimerman said. "She makes the Bulldog motor run and is always guarding the team's best player."
Heimerman also noted Alivia Schaefer as a player to watch for Paynesville. Schaefer is a 5-7 freshman forward.
"Alivia is a young ninth-grader with the physicality to push around varsity players and the body control to finish around the rim with great post-footwork," Heimerman said.
(All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwide noted)
Nov. 28 — at Osakis
Dec. 1 — vs. New London-Spicer
Dec. 5 — at Maple Lake
Dec. 14 — at Holdingford
Dec. 15 — vs. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 — vs. Minnewaska, 5:45 p.m.
Dec. 21 — at Morris/CA, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 2 — vs. ACGC
Jan. 5 — at Royalton
Jan. 9 — vs. Litchfield, 5:45 p.m.
Jan. 11 — at Kimball
Jan. 12 — at KMS, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 16 — vs. Eden Valley-Watkins
Jan. 18 — at Browerville, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 19 — vs. Maple Lake
Jan. 23 — at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
Jan. 25 — at West Central, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 26 — at Eden Valley-Watkins
Jan. 30 — vs. Holdingford
Feb. 2 — at ACGC
Feb. 5 — vs. MACCRAY, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 8 — vs. Royalton
Feb. 13 — vs. Kimball
Feb. 20 — vs. Melrose, 5:30 p.m.
