Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby Panthers Coach Jennifer Brossart supervises the team in a basketball drill in the Charlie Hanneman Gym at Rugby High School.

The Rugby Panthers began their first practices of the girls’ basketball season Nov.15 with a few advantages on their side.

The main advantage, according to Coach Jennifer Brossart and team member Anna Johnson, is a core group of players who have known each other for years.

“We’re all pretty good friends,” said Anna Johnson, who usually plays point guard for the Panthers girls’ varsity team. “This summer, it was super fun playing together. I think we’re all just kind of excited and have the motivation off last year. I think it will be really fun.”

Johnson and several teammates will bring with them skills learned in the fall when they played volleyball together.

“I think volleyball kind of helps me,” Johnson said. “As a libero, I kind of see where everything’s going. As a point guard, I have to do that, too – know where people are at. It definitely helps a lot together.”

Brossart said of the team, “We have larger numbers out this year for basketball. I think I counted 29 or 30.”

Brossart said larger numbers meant, “Lots of basketballs to go around, new uniforms and new faces, but the goals remain the same. That’s the biggest thing. I think for this year, we just have to learn and get better every day and have fun doing it.”

“I think the rest will take care of itself if we can do those things,” Brossart said.

“We have a good core group coming back from last year’s squad,” Brossart added. “We have Mykell Heidlebaugh, Kendyl Hager, Anna Johnson, Brooke Anderson – we have a lot of our depth coming back and I think what will get us through this season is the depth of our bench.”

Brossart added, “We’re going to look to go up and down the court, full court quite a bit of the game and be able to have fresh legs for quite a bit of the game. I think that will be a big asset to us here, hopefully down the stretch and into the post season barring any injuries.”

Thirty Panthers lined up in the gym for warm-ups and drills with Brossart and assistant coaches Jeremy Johnston and Danny Schneider. As each enthusiastic player ran in patterns across the court and took turns making shots, it became clear they had the fun part down.

“Our first game is the 29th in Leeds against Benson County,” Brossart said. “Then, we play the CNDC Tournament here at home the first weekend in December. So, we’ve got 11 games at home this year, which is unusual. That’ll be great to have. Our tougher schedule games will be at home this year, too, so that’ll be good.”