The Four Winds/Minnewaukan Lady Indians have a young team. But after a solid season last year, they look to be even more competitive with additional experience on their side.
FW/M went 12-12 last year with a roster that had just 11 players, only two of whom were upperclassmen. This year’s roster has 14 kids and six upperclassmen.
But the Indians’ best player last season was actually an eighth-grader, which bodes well for the future. Suri Gourd, daughter of head coach Sean Gourd Sr., averaged 17.3 points per game while still in middle school. She swished 60 three-pointers.
In this year’s Hoopster edition, Gourd Sr. expressed his pleasure in how this team has improved over the offseason.
“We have some smart guards and good shooters along the perimeter,” Gourd Sr. wrote. “Our defensive intensity and hustle has been consistent during this offseason. Our post play has also improved quite a bit. Our gym dedication this past summer has been very promising as we hope it continues into the season.”
Gourd, now a freshman, is one of four returning starters. The Indians lost their lone senior from last year, Sophie Robertson, but return the rest of their core. With Gourd already one of the state’s better players as an eighth-grader, she should only see improvement and higher maturity as a high-schooler.
“She will demand a lot of attention this season, which will hopefully open other opportunities for teammates to step up,” Gourd Sr. wrote. “Suri has also improved her ability to create for others, which will help our team become more balanced offensively. Suri has been in the gym and weight room all summer long so she’s hoping that translates into having a big year for her and our team success.”
Gourd was an all-region player in basketball last year, and was also an all-region player in volleyball this fall.
The lone senior on this year’s team is Ava Gourd, Suri’s cousin. She scored 7.2 points per game last season and had 4.4 assists per game, which Gourd Sr. said gives her the potential to be a good point guard.
“Ava is very unselfish, and she’ll do what is needed for her team to succeed,” Gourd Sr. wrote.
Junior Cailee Hanson was the top scorer not named Suri Gourd on the team last year as a sophomore. She had 9.2 points per game and hit 44 three-pointers. Gourd Sr. called her “a tall and athletic wing that has tons of potential. She can cause a lot of havoc for opposing teams with her length and hustle on the defensive side of the ball… If she can attack the basket to get to the FT line more this season, her scoring will increase, and teams will have to focus on her.”
Junior Kendra Spotted Wolf also had seven points per game, with Gourd Sr. calling her an unselfish rebounder and defender. He also noted juniors Gracie Jackson and Dru Longie as players who put in work over the summer and should give the team quality minutes.
The Indians won their season opener, beating Standing Rock Community 60-32. They lost their next two games, though both came to ranked opponents, including a close 64-61 loss to then-No. 4 Shiloh Christian.
The team has five freshmen and one eighth-grader on the varsity roster.
FW/M is well-equipped to improve from its .500 season and make some noise in Region 2.
“We had a very good offseason with the extra time the girls have put in with skill work and their gym dedication,” Gourd Sr. wrote. “We have a good group of experienced juniors and a talented freshman class that can hopefully come together at the right time. Team camps and summer leagues were very productive for us as we have noticed the girls are starting to grow and get better as a team. We will also need some girls to step up and help fill the lack of experienced depth that we will have this season. Our rebounding will need to improve if we want to become a good team. If we can defend, rebound and get some depth from our bench, we believe that our girls can compete with some of the top teams in the state. We are looking forward to an exciting season!”
