Somerset girls basketball continues to show progress

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While the Somerset girls basketball team searches for its first win of the 2012-13 season, Spartan coach Kendrick Livers is seeing signs of progress.

Livers said the one area that is holding the Spartans back is turnovers. Otherwise, he feels the team is ready to be competitive in their games.

Last week the Spartans lost games against Boyceville and Prescott. The Spartans were in contention for parts of both of these games, before turnovers brought down the team’s hopes.

The Spartans lost by 12 points to Boyceville last Tuesday. They led into the second quarter before falling to Prescott 45-21 last Friday. The Spartans led 15-13 in the second quarter against Prescott, before the Cards finished the first half on a 15-0 run.

Livers said he has found four players who have become reliable for him in every game: seniors Anna Siggens and Sadie Gilbertson and freshmen Baily Paulus and McKenzie Erickson. One of the changes made last week that gave the team a lift was switching the roles between Gilbertson and Siggens.

The coaches moved Siggens to point guard, where her patience and vision have been a plus in helping the Spartans deal with full-court pressure. Moving Gilbertson to the shooting guard position gives her more chance to use her offensive skills. Livers said the Spartans can have Gilbertson beat defenders off the dribble from the perimeter in this role and they can also have her post up against smaller defenders.

Livers said the Spartan reserves need to become more consistent so the coaches know what they’re going to get from them in each game. Livers said freshman Samantha Flandrick and senior Natalie Moses gave the team strong bench play at Prescott. Moses stepped in when senior center Sarah Krig got into foul trouble and gave the team an offensive lift.

The team defense has gotten better for the Spartans. The team almost exclusively plays zone defense. Livers said once the girls stay more disciplined in the defense, he thinks it can be quite effective.

The Spartans play at home this Thursday against River Falls, a team from the Big Rivers Conference that has struggled this season. The Spartans are hoping to turn in their most consistent effort in that game.

“I see us improving in every game and every practice,” Livers said. “We can’t be satisfied with being mediocre. Once we decide we’re sick of losing, we’ll be all right.”

Tags: sports, somerset, spartans, basketball, prep