After replacing four seniors from last season, Wauneta-Palisade girls’ basketball coach Matt Cox was please with the season WP had.
    Though Cox wouldn’t call this season wasn’t about rebuilding, he said the team did well in its first year of a two-year plan.
    “I thought overall we had a very successful season,” Cox said. “Given how many quality kids we had to replace from year ago, I felt like a winning season was a huge success.”
    The Broncos were led in 2016-2017 by returning starter, junior Faith Simpson.
    Simpson finished the season with 426 points while playing in 21 of the teams 23 games, plus 227 rebounds, 120 steals, 44 assists and 32 blocks
    Simpson didn’t just lead the Broncos. Heading into the state tournament, she finished with the most points per game and steals per game. Simpson sits second in rebounds per game and ninth in blocks per game. No one will catch her total of 13 double-doubles. Only one other player in D2 had a triple double.
    Fellow junior Reagan Skow was second on the team with 176 points, 98 rebounds and 20 assists.
    Sophomore Monique Gooden scored 151 points, including hitting 65 percent of her free throws (42-65) and was second on the team with 31 steals.
    Junior Destiny Beacham pulled down 82 rebounds and freshman starter Michaela Dukes 78.
    Junior Natalie Ramirez rounded out the Broncos’ starting lineup. After starting last season, Ramirez had a solid understanding of what Cox was looking for on the floor and was often in the right place at the right time.
    Cox said scoring can be a concern from year-to-year, but he felt some team members stepped up and shot the ball well at time.
    “I know all the girls are capable of becoming scoring threats, we just need to work to be consistent every night shooting the ball.”
    His team’s depth also effected Cox’s decision making.
    “Our depth kept me a little conservative defensively,” Cox said. “We’re a much better basketball team when are pressing fullcourt, defending man-to-man and not thinking about foul trouble.”
 

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