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BY ROBERT ROSEN (@roberterosen)
The Dover-Sherborn girls basketball team has struggled in recent years, but this year it looks like things may be different after the Raiders have started off 3-3 and hope to achieve their goal of reaching the state tournament.
“This is a special group of girls,” said coach Kanee Chlebda. “This group of seniors is my first team to coach since they were freshmen. I have seen how much they have developed over the past 3-1/2 years and I expect nothing less from them than to be playing well after February vacation… I believe the girls want it as much as I do.”
Senior forwards Dana Muckstadt and Annika Linden are captaining this year’s team, while senior Graydon Wood, senior Emily Randal, sophomore Kelby Weden and freshman Sophia Federico are expected to play major roles for the team, which has four seniors in is starting five.
“I believe [our strength] is our experience,” Chlebda said. “They know what it’s like to be down in the game and they know how hard it is to play and fight their way back into the game. We have had our share of come-from-behind games, sometimes not with the outcome that we would like, but this year we seem to understand how important it is to play a full 32 minutes.”
Putting together the skills they have been honing over the past three-plus years is something the Raiders are confident they’ve been able to do. With their large amount of experience and a mixture of youth on the team as well, they believe the tides will be turning their way this year.
“[We need to improve upon] the ability to play four quarters of basketball,” Chlebda said. “As much as I know the girls understand this approach, at this point in the season we have not been able to string together a complete game of perfect basketball. They have had their moments of greatness, most recently the second half at Norton (a one-point win).”
The Raiders will host Medway on Friday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. before hosting Millis on Monday, January 11 at 6:30 p.m.
