Bulldogs feeling more comfortable for year 2

Paynesville head coach Jacob Heimerman gives instruction to Mikayla Roberg during the first half at a Central Minnesota Conference game against Holdingford on Feb. 25, 2021 at Paynesville. Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

Paynesville returns five starters and head coach Jake Heimerman

PAYNESVILLE — Everything feels like it should be better for the Paynesville girls basketball team, from a coach who is now back for a second season after a hiatus to having all five starters return.

“(It’s) Year 2 back with the program for myself and (it’s nice) finally having a full off-season for preparation before the season,” said head coach Jake Heimerman, who is in his sixth year as the Bulldogs’ coach with a 42-69 record.

Returning starters include seniors Mikayla Roberg, Aubrie Spanier and Maddie Hentges, junior Katie Uhlenkamp and sophomore Emma Flanders. Roberg is a 5-foot-4 guard. Spanier is a 5-5 guard. Hentges is a 5-7 guard. Uhlenkamp, a 5-11 forward, was an All-Central Minnesota Conference pick last season when the Bulldogs went 5-11, including 5-8 in the conference. Flanders is a 5-10 forward. Uhlenkamp averaged 10.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, leading Paynesville in scoring. Hentges averaged 7.7 ppg and Flanders was at 3.6 ppg.

“(Flanders was a) firsttime starter last season (and) came a long way in the off-season along with growth in height and muscle,” Heimerman said.

He’s also high on Grace Roberg, a 5-7 freshman point guard. “(She’s) everywhere on the court defensively (and) has the ability to lead the team in 3-pointers, assists and steals,” Heimerman said.

All involved must replace Brynn Johnson, who was second on the team in scoring last season. Heimerman’s assistants are Brad Skoglund and Kendra Miller.

Skoglund is Paynesville’s legendary baseball coach who also was the head girls basketball coach at one time.

“We have a tough non-conference schedule ahead,” Heimermann said. “We will be the team that looks to out-work you and make every shot difficult.”

Paynesville has started 0-2, with a 62-36 loss to Osakis and a 60-39 loss to Litchfield.