Plains Trotters start basketball practice

Danielle Switalski

Plains girls’ basketball will have a C squad this year as 23 girls signed up to join the Lady Trotters for the 2009-1010 season.

Head Coach Walter Hermiston has three retuning starters from last year, Seniors Heather Earhart and Lacy Hermiston and Sophomore Kayla Revier. Hermiston and Revier are returning as the leading rebounders from last season. Earhart is returning as point guard and was the Lady Trotter’s leading scorer last year.

This is a developing year for the Plains girls, and Hermiston predicts they will start to come together and be strong later in the season. The team lacks in the height department, Reveir being their tallest girl at around 5’8; therefore, Hermiston’s main concern is where the team will score their points.

“We will try and play an up tempo game and hopefully score off transition and try and get points off press,” said Hermiston who added they will work with a multitude of defensive strategies, but will utilize a zone press and zone defense the most.

Last year, the Lady Trotters won their playoff game, making it to the District tournament. If a team made it to Districts last year, it automatically made it to Divisionals. This year there will not be a playoff game for the Trotters and they will go right to the District Tournament with the hopes of once again making it to Divisionals.

As far as competition goes for the Plains girls this year, Hermiston said he is looking to improve the score against Thompson Falls with the hopes of coming out with a win against their main rival.

Eureka and Mission will be tough competition and will require a stronger defense from the Trotters. Big Fork is new to the conference and will also offer up a challenge for Plains.

The Lady Trotters first game of the season is against Arlee on December 5.

“I have no idea what to expect from them (Arlee), so we will see,” said Hermiston.