Six letter winners return for Arcola girls ball team

By Editor | November 20, 2024 |

By Mike Monahan

ARCOLA – Six lettermen return for Arcola girls’ basketball coach Corey Roberts’ team and the squad lost two players from last year’s 24-6 squad, one that won the Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament.

“You can tell we have experience,” said Arcola senior Kacie Sisk and one of the three captains on the team. “We have all played with each other since seventh or eighth grade. It has really worked out well and we are all friends.”

Sisk averaged 20.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game to lead the Lady Riders, who finished 10-1 in the LPC, good for second place. Sisk also led in assists and steals at 3.2 and 2.6 respectively. She was 210 -of-421 from the field, including 40-of-118 from beyond the three-point line. She was 73 percent from the free throw line, making 115-158. Sisk was a unanimous all-LPC player last year.

As for a new basketball that the IHSA, the Wilson Evolution nxt, which is shinier that the old basketballs.

“I don’t really like the new basketball,” said Sisk. “One ball feels heavier than the next one and with the older basketballs they feel all the same. I feel like physically the new ball won’t mess with my shot, but mentally it will. I just have to get over it. After a few games I should be fine (if they have to use it in the regular season). “

Gone from last year are Kelsey Moore and Jacey Kessler, who averaged 9.1 and 11.6 points per game respectively. Kessler was a first team all-LPC, while Moore was on the second team.

“We lost two starters that were huge for our program,” said Roberts. “They did a lot of scoring for us and did a lot of leading also. I told the girls now that the shots those girls took are gone now. Somebody else is going to have to step up and take those shots. It is their opportunity now. It is time for these young girls to step up in their spot and help take us to the next level. “

The other letter winners include tri-captains Crystal Ramierz and Ava Simpson along with Hayden Gauna. In addition juniors Kiera Leal and Ema Simspon are returning letterwinners.

We have good numbers this year with 21 kids, which is the most I have had,” said Roberts. “It makes practices easier. You have more kids that can do more. The kids are not getting as tired because they don’t have to keep going and going. We have quite a bit of freshmen (seven) and so we will be able to play normal junior varsity games which is something we have not been able to do that much in the past. The new girls have come in and bonded. I am really surprised with how hard they work. They listen to what we tell them and they go and do it at a very high level. I am proud of them coming in as freshmen. They have done a great job.”

Last season Arcola averaged 50.2 points per game and allowed 34.7.

“Defensively, this year you might see a little different defense,” said Roberts. “Our go to will still be our man-to-man, but depending on our personnel and foul trouble we may go to some 2-3 zone. I have told the kids already that we normally don’t do that and I know they don’t like it and I don’t like it either, but sometimes you have to play a zone.”

The starters Monday were Sisk, Lira, Ema Simpson and Ava Simpson with others expected to play being Gauna, Shelby Roberts-McGeehon and Kaydence Nichols off the bench. Roberts said they will dress 12 to 13 for varsity this season and likes to stay 7-8 deep.

“The girls have been working really hard, “ said Roberts. “We have put an emphasis on getting in good shape. We have been running quite a bit. We are a smaller team so we are going to have to beat people with our speed (Ramierz and Ava Simpson are among the faster players). The girls have really embraced it. We have a lot of kids step up and play any place we need. We are pretty excited about the season.”

Roberts is happy with the huge jump that Lira and Guana have made.

“I think the group itself is pretty close,” said Roberts. “The chemistry so far for the team has been good. Our no. 1 goals are to win the regular season conference title and the regional. Last year they got experience winning the LPC tournament and have got to experience being in the regional championship game for the last three years. We have been so close in the regional title game, but have not been able to hold on.”

Sisk said of her goals and the ones for the team, “just have fun.”

Arcola opens

on the right foot, down Oakwood 50-18

FIFTHIAN – Arcola opened up the girls basketball season with a resounding 50-18 non-conference win over Oakwood Monday.

Kacie Sisk led the way with 27 points, scoring 11, 6 and 10 in the first three quarters.

Varsity

Arcola 17 12 17 4–50

Oakwood 6 4 4 4–18

ARCOLA: Ema Simpson 2-3-7, Ramirez 3-0-6, Sisk 11-4-27, Ava Simpson 0-2-2, Gauna 2-0-4, Gisinger 1-0-2, Megan Miller 1-0-2, Roberts-McGeehon, Gonzalez de Paz, Azripe, Reel, Nichols 0-0-0, Totals 20-9-50

3-point goals: Arcola 1 (Sisk 1)

Junior varsity

Arcola 6 0 6 6–18

Oakwood 3 10 0 12–25

ARCOLA: Gisinger 1-0-2, Megan Miller 2-0-4, Reel 4-0-8, Moreno 1-0-2, Condarco 1-0-2, Totals 9-0-18

2024-25 Arcola

girls basketball roster

Head coach: Corey Roberts fourth season 64-29 .877; Assistant coaches: Travis Whisman, Craig VanDeveer

Seniors: Hayden Gauna, Lucia Gonzalez de Paz, Kaydence Nichols, Crystal Rameriz, Shelby Roberts-McGeehon, Ava Simpson, Kacie Sisk

Juniors: Vanessa Azripe, Kiera Leal, Ema Simpson

Sophomores: Jaiden Miller, Megan Miller, Emmalee Reel

Freshmen: Abi Alexander, Jacy Brian, Adaline Carranza, Bri Condarco, Olivia Gisinger, Kayla Lyons, Jazy Moreno

2024-25 Arcola

girls basketball schedule

(all games start at 6 pm. With the junior varsity followed by the varsity unless noted)

Thursday: CASEY-WESTFIELD, Nov. 25 at Tuscola

Dec. 2-CENTRAL A&M, Dec. 5 SALT FORK, Dec. 9-OKAW VALLEY*, Dec. 10-vs. WSS (at Stewardson-Strasburg), Dec. 12 at Sullivan*, Dec. 16 vs. Tri-County* (at Shiloh), Dec. 19 HERITAGE*, Dec. 26-28 at Dieterich Holiday Tournament, TBA

Jan. 11 HOOPESTON AREA (10 a.m.), Jan. 13 at Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond*, Jan. 15 at Champaign Academy, Jan. 16 at Cumberland*, Jan. 18, 20, 23, 25 Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament at Okaw Valley, TBA; Jan. 27 at Villa Grove*, Jan. 29 at Arthur Christian, Jan. 30 BLUE RIDGE*

Feb. 1 MARSHALl (10 a.m.), Feb. 3 at Argenta-Oreana*, Feb. 6 CERRO GORDO/BEMENT*, Feb. 8 junior varsity tournament at Windsor (10 a.m.), Feb. 10 DECATUR UNITY CHRISTIAN*, Feb. 13 NEOGA, Feb. 15 IHSA Class 1A regional tournament, TBA

*-Lincoln Prairie Conference game

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