GAYLORD ― The winter weather has arrived, which must mean it’s time for basketball.
Last week, the boys got the basketball season going as Gaylord, St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewisotn all opened their seasons. Now, it’s the girl’s turn to get their seasons underway as all three area teams are in action this week.
Check out the outlook for each team heading into the 2023-24 hoops season:
Gaylord
Last season: 14-10 overall record, 5-5 Big North record, lost to TC Central in D2 districts
Key losses: Meghan Keen, Alexis Kozlowski
Top returners: Avery Parker, Alexis Shepherd
Games to watch: Dec. 21 at TC Central, Jan. 4 and Feb. 15 vs. Petoskey, Feb. 29 vs. Lake City
Outlook: Much like the Gaylord boys team, the Gaylord girls basketball squad has some high expectations for itself this season, just based on the talent returning.
Sure, replacing high-volume scorers like Alexis Kozlowski and Meghan Keen won’t be easy, but returning the Big North’s reigning Player of the Year in Avery Parker certainly helps that cause.
A Northwood University commit, Parker figures to be even more involved in what Gaylord does offensively after averaging 13.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and two assists per game last year.
Players to watch:Gaylord-area girls basketball players to watch heading into 2023-24
Boys previews:Take a look at previews for Gaylord-area boys basketball teams ahead of the 2023-24 season
Gaylord St. Mary
Last season: 22-4 overall record, 116-0 SVC record (League champions), lost in D4 regional finals vs. Maple City Glen Lake
Key losses: Macey Bebble, Ava Schultz, Sydney Grusczynski, Emma Glasby, Emma McKinley
Top returners: Kaylee Jeffers, Emery Blust, Payton Glasby, Miriam Murrell
Games to watch: Dec. 16 vs. Muskegon Mona Shores (Cheboygan Showcase), Jan. 9 vs. Onaway, Jan 19 and Feb. 23 vs. Johannesburg-Lewiston
Outlook: Forget the area, there may not be a team in the state replacing more talent than the Gaylord St. Mary’s girls basketball team
The Class of 2023 was vital in the program’s rise to dominance the past two seasons, making it all the way to the D4 state quarterfinals in 2022 before falling to the eventual state champions in the regional finals in 2023.
Now, life without a starting five of Bebble, Schultz, McKinley, Grusczynski and Glasby begins.
Still, sophomores Payton Glasby, Kaylee Jeffers and Emery Blust all got in the mix as freshmen last season, so they will be the ones leaned on for experience on a younger, smaller roster for head coach Pat Schultz.
Johannesburg-Lewiston
Last season: 19-7 overall record, 11-5 Ski Valley Conference record, lost to Inland Lakes in D4 regional semis vs. Inland Lakes
Key losses: Gloria House, Jocelyn Tobias
Top returners: Jayden Marlatt, Emerson Wertman
Games to watch: Dec. 13 vs. Inland Lakes, Jan. 19 and Feb. 23 vs. Gaylord St. Mary
Outlook: Despite an overall successful regular season in 2022-23, the Cardinals spent much of last season in the shadow of their crosstown rivals, Gaylord St. Mary.
Still, it was a season JoBurg fans can be proud of and the JoBurg program can build off of.
The team nearly eclipsed 20 wins (19-7) while winning the team’s first district title since 2013 last season. Now, with their star Jayden Marlatt back for one final go, the JoBurg team must be thinking the sky is the limit.
With a wide-open Ski Valley Conference this season, JoBurg could be right in the heat of a conference title battle when they meet up with GSM in late February.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
