Rockets rebuilding girls’ basketball team under a familiar leader

The assistant and head coach swapped spots on the Cedar Grove-Belgium High School girls’ basketball team, and so did the status of the squad.

The senior-led Rockets last season under Abi Lucas has turned into a younger team that is rebuilding under Nicole Depies.

The two switched places since Lucas has three children younger than 5. She remains a varsity assistant as Depies agreed to be head coach.

“I said I’d step up as long as you help me,” Depies said.

Depies is in her fourth year with the program and is keeping the same culture. Her two middle school-aged children, Lucas’ children and those of the junior varsity coach are all welcome in the gym.

“We’re all moms. We work and we coach,” Depies said.

Depies was a varsity assistant with her alma mater Random Lake, where she scored more than 1,000 points as a player, and has coached youth basketball.

She works as a marketing manager at Krier Beverage in Random Lake, the company known for making Jolly Good soda, and makes multiple other brands of beverages.

Senior guard/forward Gracie Schmidt has taken over as a leader this season for the Rockets after averaging 9.3 points per game last season, including more than 13 points per game during the second half of the year. She was third on the team in rebounds per game with 5.6 and steals per game with 2.1.

“She is kind of picking up in that same role, stepping up into a leadership spot,” Depies said.

Schmidt will also typically guard the opponent’s top player, she said.

Returning guards include Laila Arrowood and Kami Horn. Junior Arden Getschman is back who Depies said is “an all-around player who does a lot of good things, plays well off the ball.”

Depies said she hopes senior Sydnee Kurth steps up after not seeing much time last season.

Schmidt, Arrowood, Horn and Kurth are the team’s captains.

Freshman Tessa Krause started in one game already this season and has been impressive.

“She is energy and plays good defense,” Depies said. “She will be a role player for us this year as she figures high school basketball out.”

The Rockets need to replace 40 points, 20 rebounds, nine assists and nine steals per game from four seniors last year on a team that finished 16-10. Olivia Bahr eclipsed 1,000 career points and 600 career rebounds, leading the team, leading the Rockets in both with 16.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Sophie Beightol eclipsed 500 career rebounds. She was second on the team with 7.3 rebounds and 11.3 points per game. She and Bahr were named to the Big East Conference second team.

Aubrey Marti averaged eight points per game and Grace Konzak averaged 5.4. Marti led the team with 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game. Bahr was second in assists at 2.2 per game. Konzak averaged 2.1 and Beightol 1.7.

Beightol was second in steals with 2.3 per game.

“Last year we lost senior leaders. It’s really a few of these girls stepping into new leadership roles. That’s something we’re working on,” Depies said.

The team, however, already has good camaraderie. Many play other sports together and get along well, Depies said.

“Everyone kind of goes from one sport to the next. Half of my team is from the volleyball court, and after basketball they’re going to walk to the soccer field,” Depies said. “They’re good athletes, good kids. I just hope we can get them to be good basketball players and good teammates.”

The Rockets lost their first four games to start the season. They lost to Two Rivers, 60-42, on Nov. 18, to Sheboygan Christian, 82-33, on Nov. 21, to Sheboygan Lutheran, 67-29, on Nov. 25 and to Brillion at Denmark, 57-31, last Friday.

The Rockets play at Kohler on Thursday, Dec. 4, host Valders on Saturday, Dec. 6, and play at rival Oostburg, the defending state champion and a favorite to win the Big East Conference and make another deep playoff run, on Monday, Dec.8.

“Our goal is progress every day. What we look like now is not what we’ll look like at the end of the season,” Depies said.