Young season still provides time for Huskies to learn, adapt

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL: NO. 14 NORTHWOOD-KENSETT 53, NASHUA-PLAINFIELD 24 | LAKE MILLS 76, NASHUA-PLAINFIELD 30

Young season still provides time for Huskies to learn, adapt

Senior Briley Fisher emerging for the Huskies

In a season that has started out in a less than ideal way for the Huskies, head coach Erik Smith is still able to find some successes that his team is doing.

Starting 0-4 in the first couple of weeks was never in the plan, but with a tough starting schedule, Smith had planned for a rough beginning.

With the help of mental training as well as physical practice, Smith is hopeful the Huskies will bounce back in lighter week that isn’t full of ranked opponents.

“Our seniors have been really good, leadership wise,” Smith said. “The one thing we’re bringing in to our practices and before games is more mental training. We’ve got a program that I’m doing with the boys’ team that helps them keep themselves in the present moment.”

In a 53-24 loss to No. 14 (Class 1A) Northwood-Kensett on Friday night, the Huskies held the Vikings’ star Hattie Davidson to just six points in the first half.

Coming into the season, Smith said scoring was going to be a challenge for his girls, so there was an extra emphasis on defense in the weeks leading up to the season.

Smith said to be able to have an accomplishment like the one the defense had against Davidson shows that if the mental state of the players is there, the Huskies can play with anyone.

Senior Briley Fisher has started to come alive for the Huskies in the past week.

After a slow start, Fisher tallied 21 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks during the course of the weekend. She also committed zero fouls in both games.

Fisher led the Huskies in scoring on both nights, first with nine against Northwood- Kensett and then 12 against Lake Mills.

“She’s been consistent and she’s starting to come back around to shooting,” Smith said. “She’s been working hard.”

The biggest challenge so far has been the turnovers. Smith said once the girls figure out how to limit those, the Huskies will be in a better place.

“We’ve learned a lot about the team and where we’re at in the first four games,” Smith said. “I feel like we’re doing some good things, we’re just not finishing. When you have 40 turnovers a game, it just doesn’t work.”

Senior Aubry Bienemann brought in 13 points and 15 rebounds during the weekend. She’s one of the Huskies’ taller players and has become more aggressive on the boards in the past week.

Sophomore Sydney Hansen started out as a hot hand for the Huskies. She had eight points this weekend and grabbed 14 rebounds for Nashua-Plainfield.

The Huskies will travel to Newman Catholic on Dec. 8 and will host Central Springs on Dec. 11. Both games begin at 6:15 p.m.

By Stephen Koenigsfeld sports@charlescitypress.com