Youthful Bulldogs optimistic for 2008-2009

By KELLY TERPSTRA, Courier sports writer

OTTUMWA — Stan Rupe is a glass half full kind of guy.

He’ll carry that optimism with him and throughout the ’08-09 season. Tonight marks the season opener for his Ottumwa Bulldog girls basketball squad when they take on 11th-ranked Ankeny at Evans Middle School.

Rupe’s Bulldogs will take their lumps this season as the lineup is laden with underclassmen and lacking in substantial varsity game experience.

“You’re going to have some highs and lows. There is not a basketball season that I haven’t been a part of where you’re not going to have some peaks and valleys,” said Rupe, in his 31st season of coaching high school ball in the state.

The key, said Rupe, is learning from those bumps, bruises and setbacks.

Rupe lost almost 90 percent of his scoring from a year ago, a season in which Ottumwa went 9-13 overall.

Gone is leading scorer Sarah Paulson, who holds the all-time OHS single-game scoring record of 36 points, achieved last year versus Mount Pleasant. She averaged 16 points a game from her wing spot. Sarah’s twin sister, Kristin, averaged 10 points and the Bulldogs point guard in 2008 was McKenzie Cason. Cason clipped out to a scoring mark of eight. Whitney Reber also graduated and netted four points a game in the post.

Ottumwa’s lone returning starter is junior post player Missy Staloch. She averaged 4.1 points a game last season and she’s had a season under her belt in competing with the best — mainly the rough and tumble and always physical CIML Metro. Staloch was more of a role player last season for Rupe and will have to pick up her scoring to provide a presence down low for the Bulldogs.

She’s more than up for the task.

“The girl is relentless. She is tough and very coachable. Those are the kids I like,” said Rupe.

Outside of Staloch, Ottumwa has little to zero varsity experience.

“We’re starting fresh and brand new,” said the Ottumwa head coach. “We’re pretty green. There is no doubt about that.”

Rupe begins his sixth year at Ottumwa and prior to last season, guided the Bulldogs to within a game of the state tournament in back-to-back seasons. He has just two seniors on his roster and will also start a freshman in Kelsey Nickerson.

Rupe — whose teams almost always define themselves come season’s end and show marked improvement — knows it could be tough early on, but they’ll be plenty of positive highlights to look back on once the last game is played.

“You have to learn from the low points and progress from that. If we do that, we’re going to be a good ball team before the year is over,” said Rupe. “We might take some lumps, but we’re going to give some before it’s all said and done.”

Replacing Cason at the point will be junior Courtney Klyn, who scored all of one point in varsity action last season. She’ll be joined at the top of the arc by freshman Ashley Salgado, who will split time with Klyn.

“With two point guards in our league — two sets of eyes are better than one,” said Rupe.

Junior Hailey Sheldahl also saw some time on the court last season and like Klyn, scored one point in those games. Sheldahl will have to find the confidence to knock down the mid-range jumper for Rupe.

“She can move out to the 10 to 12 foot range. She’s more physical than last year,” said Rupe.

That’s a point that Rupe cannot stress enough when playing in the state’s large school class against battle-tested Metro foes such as Des Moines Roosevelt and Des Moines East, who are both ranked in the preseason top 10 in Class 4A.

“With this many youngsters in our league, the physical part of it is tough. They’ve haven’t played that yet,” said Rupe.

The new faces for Rupe will be good, it’s just a matter of when. Getting accustomed to the higher level of play is probably one of the biggest hurdles for underclassmen in 4A — outside of the aforementioned physical nature of play.

Sophomore Amy Albertson and Nickerson round out the starting lineup for Ottumwa. Albertson is a guard and Nickerson a forward.

“Albertson is very athletic. She has picked up the pace,” said Rupe.

Nickerson is a very adept free-throw shooter and her pairing with Albertson should provide a potent combo down the road.

“Kelsey can shoot the ball well. There are some things we’re working with her on,” said Rupe.

The rest of Ottumwa’s lineup looks like this. Junior Kaitlin McElroy will see court time tonight according to Rupe. Rupe said he’ll run a 10-man rotation.

Junior Paige Wetrich did play in some varsity games last year at the guard position. Seniors Katie Martin and C.J. Toomire will also suit up. Sophomores Jessi Black and Elizabeth Cason, along with freshman Rachel Hinebaugh, comprise the rest of Ottumwa’s team.

“By the end of the year, you’ll see a big improvement in this group. I guarantee you,” Rupe said.