By Staff
The wintersports season is just a little over two weeks old, but I have observed some interesting things so far.
The first thing I have observed is that girls' basketball games aren't drawing as well this winter as they did in the fall.
I don't know if that is because games are being played on different nights than they used to be or if there are just too many hoop games a week for people to attend.
I hope that once everyone gets used to having games on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays instead of the traditional Tuesdays and Fridays, that they will come out and support their local teams.
Secondly, after nearly two weeks of the girls' basketball season, some league contenders are starting to rise to the top.
Buchanan, Brandywine and Cassopolis appear to be the top teams in the Lakeland Conference.
The Lady Bucks play outstanding defense, which will keep them in any contest.
Buchanan also has a solid nucleus of veteran players and are very well coached.
Brandywine may be the surprise team of the league this season.
The Lady Bobcats are off to a great start and I expect them to make some noise before the season ends.
Cassopolis, now that senior Michelle James is back in the starting line up, is a team that their Lakeland Conference opponents should be very wary of.
The sleeper team in the Lakeland has got to be the Edwardsburg Lady Eddies.
Now that Edwardsburg has gotten into the win column, look out!
This team has talent, but not much experience.
The Lady Eddies will improve as the year goes on and be a factor in who wins the league before all is said and done.
Dowagiac is undefeated so far in 2007-08, that's not much of a surprise.
What has been shocking is that teams have been able to shut down Katy Stuppy and Torie Lowe, but the Chieftains are still winning.
Stuppy had a big opener, but was held to seven points in the second game of the season by Three Rivers.
She led all scorers Saturday in a win over Niles, but had just three baskets from the field.
Lowe came into the Niles game averaging 17.5 points per game, but was held to seven points by the Lady Vikings.
There is no reason for alarm here because teams are going to focus their defensive efforts on those two.
What I have liked so far, is that teams have not been able to stop both of them at the same time and that the other players are getting involved offensively.
The more starters Britnee Allerton, Kristy Cooper and Shardatsha Fitchett get into the scoring column, the less teams will be able to focus on Stuppy and Lowe.
The Lady Vikings are just 2-2 on the season, but they are going to be right in the thick of the Big 16 West Division race this season.
Niles plays sound defense, but needs to find some consistency on offense.
This young Lady Vikes team just needs a little time to jell and they will be ready to take on the likes of Benton Harbor.
It has been an interesting start to the season. I look forward to seeing what will happen on down the road for our girls cage teams.