Warriors loaded , looking for more hardware
By Dave Morrison for the register-herald
new richmond – It was no easy task for Cadee Blackburn to step into the role of point guard as a freshman for the Wyoming East Lady Warriors program . But there was precedence .
Seven years earlier Gabby Lupardus started at the point for Wyoming East and the Warriors never looked back . Skyler Davidson then took over the point four years later as a sophomore after joining the team Lupardus ’ senior year .
So , into familiar shoes , whether she knew it or not .
“ Gabby and Skyler both had high basketball IQs when they came to the program , they were not typical freshmen basketball players ,” Wyoming East coach Angie Boninsegna , a point guard herself at Pineville , said of the two three-time first-team all-state players . “ But I ’ m proud of Cadee stepping in and playing the way she did . She really played well , hit some big shots for us and did an excellent job running the point .”
The original plan would have been to ease Blackburn into the point position behind Abby Russell , who had played both the one and two positions during the state championship season of 2021 .
But Russell tore an ACL the day after the state championship game and was sidelined for half the season .
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Jim Cook / For The Register-Herald
Cadee Blackburn scores for Wyoming East .
Blackburn stepped in and was second on the team in minutes played ( 25.1 ) and averaged 8.7 points , 3.9 rebounds , 3.2 assists and 2.3 steals as Wyoming East ( 16-4 ) returned to the state championship game , falling to Parkersburg Catholic , which it had beaten in 2021 . Blackburn was an honorable mention allstate player .
Russell returned to the team in the ninth game of the season and finished averaging 9.4 ppg , 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals . She also lost her father over the offseason making her return to the squad more emotional and triumphant .
“ If you would have told me that Abby would return last season , especially when she did , I would have said that you were crazy ,” Boninsegna said . “ But she was ready , and she kept getting a little better . She has returned this season and is moving well . Abby is looking to have a big season .
She was a first-team allstater in 2021 . Last year she was second team allstater .
Last season the duo Maddie Clark and Kayley Bane were first teamers this season and are coming off great seasons . Clark , a junior and a guard , led the team in scoring averaging 13.7 points , 5 rebounds , 4.4 assists and 3.9 steals . Bane is a senior who will play a post because of her physical style of play , and she averaged 10.6 ppg , 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals .
Colleen Lookinbill is a fouryear player who averaged 4.5 points , 3.8 rebounds , 2 assists and 2.4 steals and was an honorable mention all-state pick .
Six players made the allstate team last season , including the team ’ s lone senior , Hannah Blankenship , who played the season with a torn labrum but never missed a game and was a defensive force .
“ I have a lot of respect for Hannah and the way she played through an injury , and she could do everything but really extend her arm , which affected her shooting , but she really stood out playing defense on the interior for us ,” Boninsegna said .
“ We feel pretty good about our lineup , obviously Maddie and Kayley had great seasons last year and Kayley , Maddie and Colleen have been in the program and have been in big games . We don ’ t have a big lineup , but we are deeper than we have been .”
Part of the reason for the deeper team is some players got to play due to injuries .
Alivia Monroe ( 2.7 ppg , 3.7 rpg ) and Gabby Cameron ( 1.9 ppg , 2.1 rpg ) got to play as freshmen on the Warriors state tournament team and 5-10 Charleigh Price ( 2.4 rebounds ). Laken Toler , a senior , adds additional depth .
The Warriors have seven freshmen on this year ’ s team , and Abby Baker , who Boninsegna said is as quick as a cat , and Kenna Price could find themselves on the floor as freshmen .
“ We have a hard schedule , we have added some new teams and play in a tough section and region ,” Boninsegna said . “ I ’ m looking forward to getting started and taking it one game at a time . Our expectations are always high for the season , but we can ’ t look past the first game ( against Mercer Christian on Tuesday , Nov . 29 ).”
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