BOLD aims for big-time fun

BOLD's Lainey Braulick (left) looks to make a pass while Montevideo's Tenley Epema (14) defends during a West Central Conference game on Jan. 29, 2021 at Montevideo High School. Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

With their top 11 players back, Warriors expect to make some noise

BY TOM ELLIOTT | West Central Tribune

OLIVIA — When Brian Kingery says the BOLD girls basketball team is going to be fun this year, it’s hard to argue with the veteran head coach.

The Warriors return their top 11 players from last year’s 10-5 team. That includes all five starters and the top six players off the bench. That includes Mari Ryberg, who averaged 15.8 points per game, and Lainey Braulick, who averaged 15.3.

Leslie Snow (8.2 ppg), Abby Meyers (8.1 ppg) and Lily Dean (7.3 ppg) are also back Ryberg also was also the leading rebounder with 137 and Meyers was right behind with 123, followed by Leslie Snow (104).

“We are excited about this year’s team,” said Kingery, who is in his 14th season and a 182-159 career record. He’s also BOLD’s baseball coach. “We are returning our top 11 players from last year and we feel that the experience we gained last season will help us out this year,” he said.

“We feel we can be competitive in our conference and our section.”

The West Central Conference should be really good. Montevideo and Sauk Centre look strong.

Besides returning the starting five intact, the Warriors also should have a good bench. Lidia Plass (5-8, sr., g); Caylee Weber (5-11, sr., p); Kenzie Visser (5-10, so., f), Anna Moorse (5-10, jr., w), Anna Gardeen (5-6, jr., g) and Layla Pfarr (5-4, fr., g) all have game experience.

“Our biggest strength this season will be our depth,” Kingery said. “We have a good mixture of size and quickness. “It should be a fun year.”

BOLD made it to the Section 2A semifinals, where it lost to Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s wound up winning the section and advancing to the state Class A tournament, where it lost to Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa in the semifinals.

St. Mary’s and Sleepy Eye Public both look like a potential nemesis for BOLD once again this season in Section 2A. Both have beaten the Warriors in a season-opening tournament. BOLD lost to Sleepy Eye 67-54 and to St. Mary’s 67-44. The Warriors then beat the Yellow Medicine Yellowjackets 66-48 and a very good Central Minnesota Christian squad 59-49. Next up is Montevideo on Dec. 10.

BOLD’s Abby Meyers (left) looks to put up a shot while Montevideo’s Avery Koenen closes in on defense during the first half of a West Central Conference game Jan. 29, 2021 at Montevideo High School.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune