This season’s West Branch girls’ basketball team is deep and fast and will play aggressively. Head Coach Mike Johnston plans to finish near the top of the Cedar Valley Conference this season.


Last year’s team started off hot with a 7-0 record, but cooled off and finished 13-10, 7-7 in the CVC.

“We had really good defense and liked to run the floor,” Johnston said of last year’s team. “We have good team speed again this year.”

The 2008-09 team lost five to graduation: Allie Arp, Emily Slach, Jazmin Baylor, Kassie Stoolman and Chelsey Pence.

This year’s team also has five seniors. Bethany Harms is the point guard and the most experienced player. She was a starter last season. Chelsey Robertson came off the bench last year and started a few games. Hayley Pence, Jen Humrichouse, and Tildy Randleman are the other seniors and didn’t have a lot of playing time last season. Randleman battled some injuries last season.

Last year’s freshman and sophomore teams each won the conference, so there are some talented players who will step up this year. One sophomore and one freshman will start for the Bears along with some upperclassmen.

“It’s not just the senior class. We’ve got a good mix of kids,” Johnston said.

This season’s team doesn’t have strong outside shooting ability, but, Johnston said, “We’re going to press. We’re going to play man-to-man. We’re going to be all over the floor. We’re going to run a lot of kids.

“We’ve got 11 kids, and I fully intend to have everyone playing. Not equal time, but they all will get to play. We’re going to wear people out.”

Johnston predicts that steals and lay ups will be the lion’s share of the team’s offense.

“They know they need to shoot the ball outside. I tell them every day in practice. But when you get in an offense, and nobody’s shooting because they don’t think they can make it, it slows you down.

“That’s why our press and our man-to-man is where we’re going to get most of our points. Transition basketball. Fundamental, aggressive basketball. That’s the way we want to play.”

Johnston wouldn’t say the CVC will be less dominant this season, but he admits some teams lost a lot of talent.

“Regina’s going to be the best team in the conference. They’re going to be tough with (Ali) Browning and (Kylee) Homewood back with a pretty decent supporting cast,” Johnson said.

“Mid-Prairie has lost five or six seniors; Tipton lost eight seniors. But they’ve got good coaches this year. Wilton has some scorers back, so they’re going to be okay.

“Durant has everybody back. They weren’t very good last year. North Cedar lost some key seniors, but so did we.

“I totally intend to compete with Regina to be the conference champs. That’s our goal. We know Regina’s going to be tough. That’s a good (goal) for us. Everybody else is in the same boat.”

This is Johnston’s sixth year coaching at the varsity level. He is assisted by Jarod Tylee and Tony Luneckas.