With the winter sports season fast approaching, the spotlight is on the Lennox High School Girls’ Basketball team as they gear up for an exciting and promising season under the seasoned leadership of Coach Adam Quail.
Quail, entering his seventh year at the helm, boasts an impressive coaching background, including a year coaching C Team Boys at Deubrook High School, three years as the Sophomore Boys Coach at Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School, and two years as the Junior Varsity Girls Coach at Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School.
While with the Orioles, Quail has accumulated a record of 97-39. Assisting Quail in the upcoming season are Junior Varsity Coach Paul McVey and C Team Coach Kray Person. Together, this coaching trio brings a wealth of knowledge and guidance to the team, ensuring a well-rounded approach to the game.
Last season the Orioles ended with a commendable 16-7 record but fell short in the SoDak 16. Despite the setback, the Lennox High School girls are eager to build on that experience and push further in the upcoming season.
Quail acknowledges the team’s strengths, emphasizing experience, senior leadership, and size as key assets. Having only lost Courtney Sandal to graduation, the Orioles welcome back seniors: Carli Kuyper, Dani Highum, and Ashlee Sweeter. Along with juniors Ryan Hanssen, Gavyn Herlyn, Graycee Postman; sophomores Holly Gillick, Mia Hanisch, Izzy Vargas, Andie Peters, Amelia Meier, and ninth graders Peyton Herlyn, Kassidy Williamson, Jalyn Faulds, Kenzie Bosma, Karlie Bosma, Olivia Niederbaumer, Sydney Johnson, Mallory Bittner, and Brooklyn Buehner.
Eighth graders Teagan Sturm and Libby Kranz are also poised to make significant contributions to the team’s success. Also on the roster this season will be junior Ayaulym Nurakhmetova and ninth grader Jere’Mya Elliot.
“I am really looking forward to this season,” said Quail. “We have more girls participating this year than we have had in the past six years and we are led by a talented group of seniors. This team is extremely well balanced with a great mix of upper and underclassmen who are eager to build off the success of last year. With so many talented players returning we will be able play many different offensive and defensive styles which will help us adjust throughout our difficult schedule.”
The Orioles begin action on Tuesday, Dec. 5 when they travel to Dakota Valley. On Dec. 8 they host Sioux Falls Christian, with the varsity set to tip-off at 6:30 p.m. On Dec. 9 the team travels to Milbank in a doubleheader with the LHS boys. The girls are on the road again on Dec. 12 when they take on Dell Rapids before being home on Dec. 14, where they will face off against Madison. Their final match-up for December is slated for Dec. 18 when they travel to Canton. Action begins again on Jan. 2 when they host Mount Vernon/Plankinton.
Quail sees Elk Point Jefferson, Vermillion and Tea Area as some of the top contenders in the area and notes the Orioles will need to improve on offensive rebounding and limit turnovers to achieve greater success on the court this season.
Quail is excited for the season to get underway. “I look forward to seeing how quickly our team comes together because when they do, this group will be fun to watch!”