Girls short on numbers, experience

With only one returning starter from a year ago and nearly a completely different varsity roster, the Custer High School girls basketball team will have its work cut out for it to compete in the Black Hills Conference this season. However, head coach Stephanie Ornelas said the 14 girls who are on the team are hard workers and dedicated to doing just that.

“It’s a different camaraderie with the girls with the small team,” she said. “The girls who are here love the sport, and we are going to move foward with them.” 

With the roster largely turned over, senior Samantha McNeel (5-10 F, Sr.) is the only returning starter from last year’s squad. Other returing players who saw varsity minutes a year ago include senior Darian Turner (5-8 F) and sophomores Catlyn Cordell (5-10 F), Billie Wicks (5-3 G), Jasmine Cisneros (5-4 G) and Nykyla Malinosky (5-10 F). Ornelas also expects big things from senior Channell Alcott (5-10 F), who is new to the team this year after moving to Custer from Arizona, where she played basketball.