West Aurora calls up 5 freshmen to join inexperienced group
Change is a given, even if it isn’t a given it’s not always going to be easy.
West Aurora will have a new look this season, a product of both the quick style of play the Blackhawks will feature, and also a product of the talented graduated seniors coach Connie Siljendahl has to replace.
Gone are Kiara Towles and Devin Vaughn, a pair of four-year starters who both scored over 1,000 career points. That type of production isn’t easy to replace.
“We have some big shoes to fill this season,” Siljendahl said. “I don’t know if any of my girls are ready or have the skills for it. It will be a growing and learning year. I will have a mix of seniors, juniors and freshman with no experience.”
Even those seniors don’t have much experience and just a little playing time back from the juniors. One junior to watch is point guard Alexis Nelson who is the team’s top returning scorer at 6.4 points to go with 2.9 assists a game.
Dionis Moon is the top returnee among the seniors and will provide West Aurora with an inside presence.
At the same time, Siljendahl isn’t wasting any time in finding the new core for the program with five freshmen expected to get a chance: Elizabeth Skaggs, Taylor Jacobsen, Erin Jacobsen, Kyla Walton and Abria Zeitz.
Siljendahl expects those freshmen to come off the bench to start the season and work their way into more playing time as the season progresses.
She said they have been coached well by Larry Parker and bring different skills to the team. Skaggs will be the first post off the bench. Zeitz is a 5-10 shooting guard while Taylor Jacobsen is a strong driver and outside shooter and Walton and Erin Jacobsen are both point guards.
“They have all the skills but just don’t know my system yet,” Siljendahl said. “It will be fun to watch them grow. The girls have been really working hard at practice but when you have so many newcomers practice is slow. We will be fast and quick. You will see us press, run and drive hard.”
If there’s one question Siljendahl is looking to see answered it might be who can score from the perimeter.
“We will have to get the ball inside to the bigs,” Siljendahl said. “Outside shooting will be a work in progress. Defense will have to be a strength.”
In her fifth year at West Aurora, Siljendahl says this is the most talented team she’s had. There might be some initial growing pains but look for good things as the season progresses.
“I am looking at the freshmen to come off the bench and give us some good things later in the season,” Siljendahl said.
Quick facts
Coach: Connie Siljendahl
Last year: 12-16, lost 55-28 to Waubonsie Valley in Class 4A West Aurora regional championship game.
Players to watch: Alexis Nelson, jr., G; Dionis Moon, sr., F