Eagles back to defend title

After years of striving to be at the top of the Central Wisconsin Conference-10, the Menominee Indian High School girls basketball team did just that.

On the back of Ania Smith, the Eagles’ star 5-foot-8 forward who was recognized as Player of the Year in the conference one season ago, the team went 19-4, including 16-2 in the CWC-10.

“We learned that it’s not an easy road. Especially when you’re 18-0, a lot of pressure,” Menominee Indian head coach Chris Rice said. “A lot of pressure you put on yourselves. We learned that every game you have to be ready to play.”

The young Eagles will again rely on Smith to find ways to score. Smith’s 17.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game were both the highest in the conference.

Smith was also the lone player in the CWC-10 to average a double-double, but she is not feeling any higher expectations this season.

“I don’t really feel pressured,” Smith said. “If it happens, it happens again.”

Rice has seen Smith improve her game this offseason, something that does not bode well for opposing defenses.

“Her physicality has been the biggest thing,” Rice said. “She has really worked hard at banging in the post and making sure that she is as strong as she can be to have whatever advantage she can get in the post.”

Starting point guard Taylor Mahkimetas returns to the team after tallying 4.4 assists and 4.0 steals per game a season ago.

Currently, Menominee Indian is without shooter Kendra Webster Waukau, who is battling an injury, just as she did last season.

“She came out for us later in the year because she was sidelined with an injury,” Rice said. “She will be a big help. She’s actually injured again, but she will be back at some point.”

Menominee Indian finished three games ahead of Wild Rose, Tri-County and Bowler in the conference last year, but a tough loss to Crandon in the WIAA regional has the Eagles setting their sights beyond a second conference championship.

“We want to reach higher than that, like a regional championship, just to push ourselves,” Mahkimetas said.

It won’t be easy getting through conference play again though.

“Now that we’ve done that, we’ve got a big bulls-eye on our backs, (teams) trying to come for us,” Rice said. “We’re going to get the best out of everybody every night.”