With one week of practice in and one week until the regular season gets underway, the Knoxville Girls basketball Squad is looking forward to this season with great anticipation. 64% of the scoring will be back from last season’s 15-8 squad that finished 9-5 in the South Central Conference and in 3rd place. Gone is leading scorer Emma Dunkin to graduation, but back in a solid nucleus of five players that contributed including returning leading scorer Hannah Dunkin, who averaged 14 points per game and Brittany Bacorn, who scored just over ten points per game. Coach Matt Ritchhart tells KNIA/KRLS Sports along with returners Anna Buttell Anna Anderson, and Natalie Collins plus an infusion of a few talented freshmen, it is a good balance of experienced and young talent for the Panthers.

Ritchhart: “That core of Hannah, Brittany, Natalie, Anna Buttell and Anna Anderson then influxing it with those younger kids, plus Iselyn Prevo, who has experience playing varsity in softball and volleyball we have a good mix of experience and young talent.”

The freshmen are led by Addy Dunkin and Abbie Keitges, who both Ritchhart adds have a lot of basketball playing experience. Hear more from Ritchhart on this Saturday’s Hy-Vee Radio Coaches Corner at 9:00 on KNIA/KRLS. Knoxville opens the regular season next Tuesday against PCM following a scrimmage this Friday against Ottumwa. You can hear Tuesday’s game and all Knoxville broadcasts this season on 95.3 KNIA.