Raise the roof, and reach for the stars!

That may very well be the motto for Weatherly’s 2021-2022 girls’ basketball season. After all, this band of ladies did something that hasn’t happened since 1993.

Beating Marian, surely has been a signature victory for the program under second-year coach Brain Billig, but doesn’t take all the credit.

“We had that big win (over Marian), it carried us right into the playoffs last season,” Billig points out.

Although Marian wasn’t the old version, it still wins and makes you work for victories.

“You know, it’s buying into what we want to get accomplished,” he said. “That win put confidence in the team. They found out they would compete, and it carried right over into the (postseason) playoffs.”

Weatherly finished strong down the stretch, going 4-2 and reaching the District 11 Class A finals before being ousted by Nativity. It knocked off Lincoln Leadership three times, and came together with the win over the Fillies.

In fact, Weatherly was bounced by 18 points by Marian in the first meeting.

So, what type of encore are the Wreckers looking for to start the season?

Billig says he needs to find scorers in a hurry. The team lost a big one in Ashley James, who poured in 14 points per game. That is a huge void to fill, Losing Grace Miller is another factor, for she was a rapid fire off the glass with 8.8 per game.

“Both of those girls’ kind of carried us, even though Grace was injured, and when she returned it made a big difference at both ends of the court,” Billig pointed out. “Losing those two players, you never kind of replace, but we could do things more by committee this season.”

Weatherly will be looking at two seasoned payers, and both are underclassmen, too. There is Emma Kane (5-8), who as sophomore who knocked down 6.7 points per game and picked off four rebounds every night out.

Bethanny Houser is seasoned and tested after last go-round, and the 5-3 sophomore is being counted out to move right into a starting role. Houser can swing from either guard position, scoring 6.2 points per game last winter, and is a potential three-point shooter, she hit 15 from beyond the arc.

“Right now, they’re our two key returning players,” Billig confirmed. “There are three other underclassmen we hope can fit in and gain some confidence early. If they play as hard as they practice, we will get the production from that, which will give us a boost.”

Junior Abby Paisley (5-7) had her share of playing time and the junior has decent size at 5-7. Billig is projecting Paisley as a player in the paint or at forward. The sophomore duo of Kayleigh Gaydoscik (5-6) and Taylor Davidovich (5-5) are being counted on to steady things at forward and guard in that order.

“Those kids didn’t start last season, so we have to get them confidence, and if that happens, we can be very competitive.” Billig mentioned.

Billig likes a newcomer in freshman Raynessa Paulino Diaz, who could emerge along with freshman Nastasia Cruz (5-3) and second year player Anastasia Bloom (5-6).

“Diaz could be really good,” Billig pointed out. “She has some height (5-7) and is athletic. But she will need to get some experience, and she would give us depth inside.”

Though the Wreckers finished at 6-17, the late season surge will be a factor early this time around, Billig knows.

“If we continue to play unselfishly, like we did last year, and it carries over to start this year, we could be competitive,” Billig said. “I know the girls are all committed, and they want to get better. All we need is some confidence like we got late last year.”

Confidence helps everywhere, and if that carries over, the Wreckers could pick up where they left off in March, and in the process, raise the roof, and reach for the stars!