By Becky Walz,
Donning varsity jerseys for the Turkey Valley girls’ basketball team this season are (front, l-r) Hazel Nieman, Alexis Elsbernd, Ashlyn Busta, Mariah Throndson, Layni Schuchhardt, Jenna Throndson; (back) Assistant Coach Frank Wilson, Head Coach Steve Hoffert, Isabella Stika, Annika Bodensteiner, Delaney Busta, Ellaney Bodensteiner, Emmersyn Hoffert, Addison Steinlage, Haylee Hanson and Assistant Coach Ashley Walz. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)
The Turkey Valley girls basketball team is hoping the leadership provided by last year’s seniors, combined with the experience several underclassmen earned, will carry into this year.
After going 17-6 to conclude the 2022-23 season, the Trojans are hoping to see quick growth in the younger athletes taking the floor with a veteran coach, Steve Hoffert, and his assistants Frank Wilson and Ashley Walz.
Much improved
With just four seniors last year, the Vikes had a blend of veterans with a largely untested group of underclassmen. However, the team pulled together to ring up the wins in and out of the Upper Iowa Conference, concluding the season as the UIC runner-up with a 14-2 mark.
The Trojans opened the postseason run at home against West Central, easily pulling away from the Blue Devils, winning 33-13. In the Class 1A quarterfinal, Turkey Valley hosted Maquoketa Valley and finished with a 61-36 loss.
As a team, Turkey Valley averaged 45.1 points per game, connecting on 33.2 percent of its field goal attempts and 21.3 percent of three-point attempts. In addition, the Trojans pulled down an average of 25.0 rebounds per night.
Point production
Turkey Valley lost all four of its top scorers from last season. Jacqlyn Schmitt averaged 15.2 points per night, hitting 46.1 percent of her shots. She led the team in rebounds with 163 (107 defensive, 56 offensive), as well as steals with 57 and blocks with 31. For her efforts, she was named First Team All-UIC and was a member of the Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-Region Team.
Aubrey Hoffert was second on the squad with 9.1 points per night. She connected on 39.2 percent of her shots. During her senior campaign she also contributed 47 rebounds, 37 steals, 17 assists and 15 blocked shots to earn a First Team All-UIC nod.
Alison Leibold was named honorable mention All-UIC last year, after averaging 6.1 points per night. She led the Trojans in assists with 40 and was third best on the team in steals with 41, along with grabbing 35 total rebounds.
Another All-UIC honorable mention, Brianna Busta, averaged 5.5 points a contest and was second in rebounds with 91 total boards, averaging 4.1 an outing, as well as second in steals with 50. She also contributed 31 assists.
Letter winners
Coach Hoffert has four letter winners he can look to for leadership, including one senior.
Leading the way will be Mariah Throndson lone senior and guard who averaged 2.2 points per game and pulled down 44 total rebounds to go with 36 steals and 28 assists.
Guard Addison Steinlage put up 2.9 points per night as a freshman. She averaged 3.5 rebounds a game (80 total), with 37 steals and 16 assists.
Annika Bodensteiner, a forward, produced 1.4 points and 1.0 rebound per contest last year, while Delaney Busta averaged 0.5 points and 1.0 rebound a game.
Also suiting up for the Trojans this season are juniors Layni Schuchhardt, Ashlyn Busta, Alexis Elsbernd; sophomores Haylee Hanson and Jenna Throndson; and freshmen Bella Stika, Emersyn Hoffert, Ellaney Bodensteiner and Hazel Nieman.
“We are excited for the opportunity these girls have this season,” said the veteran coach. “We understand there will be some ups and downs early in the season with our lack of varsity experience, but if we continue to grow fundamentally and compete hard in practice we will have a successful season.”
In the league
There will be several variables for the Trojans to contend with as the season picks up with Coach Hoffert excited to see the team with speed, height and the numbers in the program. However, he is concerned about the loss of the four key seniors from last season and the lack of varsity experience this year’s squad brings to the court.
Central, MFL MarMac and North Fayette Valley are Coach Hoffert’s favorites to lead the Upper Iowa Conference this season.
“If we do the things we are capable of doing, we could finish in the top three as well,” said Coach Hoffert.
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