Patriot News MN

A new coach, new players and a new outlook are all key elements to the 2016-17 Becker Bulldog girls basketball team.

Paul Lindsay is out and Dan Baird is in as the hew varsity head coach of the girls program. Baird, a Pennsylvania native, has been coaching basketball for 16 years, including one year as a volunteer assistant on his old high school team in the Pittsburgh area.

At Becker, Baird has coached seventh grade, ninth grade, 10th grade, JV and now varsity hoops.

Baird has 28 girls in the school’s basketball program this year including 12 on varsity, 10 on JV and six on “C” team.

Last year’s team under Lindsay advanced to the Class AAA State Tournament and finished fourth with stars Alex Johnson, Abbigail Morrell, Whitney Raygor and Amanda Lindsay. One of the team’s future stars — who “wowed” many on-lookers during the season, eighth-grader MacKenzie Kramer, has transferred to St. Michael-Albertville.

Baird lost Johnson, Lindsay, Morrell and Raygor — along with three other seniors to graduation — so he has a large task in front of hime to get the program to be competitive in his first year.

“Varsity experience is one area this year's team is lacking,” he said. “Claire Thorn is our only senior. She does bring back a lot of experience from last year's semifinal run.”

Baird retained Scott Gudmundson as his varsity assistant and he'll take over the JV duties as well. Alyssa Stevens is Baird’s new ninth grade coach in her first year at the helm. Heather Fahsl returns as volunteer assistant.

Scott Brake — assistant coach from 2007 state title team and former school athlete trainer — is back coaching basketball again as the school’s eighth grade coach. Dominic Squires return as the seventh grade coach.

Baird describes his coaching style as “laid back.” He’s not the type of coach who tends to yell at officials or players. He believes in letting the game play out and does most of his instruction in between games.

“I believe in preparation in practice,” he says. “I try to always address the team and I want players to play through their mistakes, buy into their roles on the team and support their teammates.”

Baird believes his team’s strength on the court will be the athlete’s size in the front court. He has Thorn, Haley Benda, Renee Tripp, Lexi Masog and Madi Kerzman to protect the inside and grab a lot of rebounds.

“We have extremely skilled young players that are also quick,” he says. “Getting the youngsters and veterans to mesh will be up to the coaching staff and captains.”

Baird’s captains this year are senior Thorn and juniors McKenna Anderson and Tripp.

“All three were huge in the coaching transition and being involved in Breakdown Tournaments and Fall Leagues since I've been hired,” Baird says. “They volunteer and are always willing to help out.”

With the coaching transition and the heavy loss of key players from last year’s state playoff team, many are looking at the 2016-17 season as a rebuilding season.

Baird doesn’t buy into that.

“I'm trying to stress to the players that working hard, being a good teammate and preparation will lead to a growth mindset,” Baird said. “Wins will follow. Some have said this is a rebuilding year. I don't believe it is. I think we can have success this season.”

Team captains are Thorn, Anderson and Tripp. The rest of the team consists of Alyssa Gruenes (9), Cayla Paumen, Alayna Lindquist, Courtney Nuest, Julia Bengtson and Kirsten Fitzgerald.

SCHEDULE

• 12/1 - Delano (home) - 7:15 p.m.

• 12/3 - Simley (away) - 1 p.m.

• 12/6 - Willmar (home) - 7:15 p.m..

• 12/8 - Big Lake (away) - 5:45 p.m.

• 12/15 - Mora (away) - 7:30 p.m.

• 12/20 - Milaca (home) - 7:30 p.m.

• 12/28 - Princeton (away) - 4:15 p.m.

• 12/29 - Chisago Lakes (away) - 5:30 p.m.

• 1/5 - Little Falls (away) - 7:30 p.m.

• 1/6 - Cathedral (away) - 7:30 p.m.

• 1/9 - Cambridge-Isanti (away) - 7:15 p.m.