Indees look to rebound after tough finish last year

The 2024-25 version of the Independence/Gilmanton girls basketball team was in position to win a conference title and make a strong tournament run. Then it hit a wall.

The team started the season 19-3 and won nine straight games — including a 42-30 win over Eleva-Strum — entering the final week of the season. But the team began to struggle at the worst possible time, losing by four to Whitehall and one to Blair-Taylor to close the regular season.

The team’s struggles culminated in its first Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association regional game, scoring just four points in the second half of a 69-27 loss to Alma/Pepin — a team I/G defeated by 14 points just 21 days earlier. 

The Indees are set to return every player from last year’s squad and Coach John Zilla thinks the finish to that season just might help them this year.

“Coming off that experience will serve as a great motivator for the team this year,” Zilla said. “It makes you realize how important each little detail is when executing on the court.”

The Indees struggled early last season with injuries and leading scorer Arabelle Kniseley battled a shoulder injury all season. She is one of four seniors on this year’s squad joining Makiyah Scow, Taylor Sylla and Avery Halama. 

I/G went into last season knowing it had a talented roster and partly because of the injuries, the Indees go into this season with a plethora of experienced players. Juniors Catherine Kampa, Shauna Dejno, Sarah Roskos, Sophia Kampa, Nora Schank and Anna Kent have all seen significant time on the court for the Indees. 

Even though they were just freshmen, the team also got production from Rielynn Sheahan, Hannah Ekern and Hadley Sylla last year.

Kniseley led I/G by scoring 11.8 points per game, while Sheahan added 10.2 and Schank finished with 10.1. 

“I have high expectations for this group,” Zilla said. “We have some quality players and should have great depth on the bench with a lot of versatility with our girls. We have an athletic bunch that can play very good defense and that can run the court well. We are going to play a very up-tempo brand of ball and apply a lot of pressure on other teams.”

Zilla said the team will have to improve its rebounding and limit its fouls. If it does, “I believe we should be right back in the thick of things for one of the top two spots in the conference.”

The veteran I/G coach said he expects E-S to be the favorites in the DC-Large Division. The Cardinals won the division by one game last year and advanced to the sectional final round. Like many of the top DC teams, E-S returns much of its roster. 

“There are a bunch of teams that are right up there with them,” Zilla said. “I believe teams are going to be in battles night in and night out, which should make for an exciting girls basketball season.” 

The Indees started their season with a game at Eleva-Strum on Tuesday. They’ll host Augusta in Gilmanton on Friday. Next Tuesday, they’ll welcome Blair-Taylor in Independence.