MAZEPPA, Minn. — Darren Nelson was expecting something like this.
There was an evolution happening and it was happening before his eyes. His Zumbrota-Mazeppa girls basketball team was growing up.
Draining shot after shot after shot from 3-point distance was just a part of it.
So was being defensive hounds, running the court and playing a wide-open game that also demanded good sense.
“We knew what we wanted to get better at,” Nelson said. “And that was playing more transition basketball and shooting the ball better.”
Consider both done.
The Cougars finished 13-15 last year. Now they are 15-9 — just two of those losses to unranked teams — and playing with all of those aforementioned attributes on their side.
“We are much better than last year,” said Nelson, in his fifth year directing Z-M, and one who devotes nearly 25 minutes of each practice to shooting, with a special eye on 3-point tries. “We are reaping the rewards of more varsity experience. We are dictating things in transition and our defense has really improved.”
And yes, don’t forget about all of those 3-pointers shot and made by the Cougars. They shoot as many 3s as 2-pointers and have spent many a night raining long-distance makes on their opponents. Z-M averages a zesty nine made three-pointers per game, among the top couple of marks in southeastern Minnesota. Five times they have drained at least 12 of them in a game.
For the Z-M players, it’s been a winning and exhilarating style.
“All of us are having a great time this season,” said Z-M’s Amelia Angerman (averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds per game), one of just two seniors on the team, the other being fellow starter Addie Liffrig (8 points, 3.2 rebounds per game). “I love all the 3s we are taking because I really like to shoot the ball. And we are supported by our teammates who let us shoot so much.”
It’s tough not to support something that is working. That includes starting three sophomores, all of them hotly productive guards. That is Adi Preston (already in her third year as a starter; 9.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.5 steals per game), Chloe Henn (12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 4.8 steals per game) and Elyse Ryan (12.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.2 steals per game).
That leaves Z-M undersized, though extremely quick, with four of its starters guards.
That has also been something that has worked, as has bringing a sophomore and a freshman as its first two players off the bench.
Yes, all of them are growing up and as it happens that Cougars’ win total keeps growing.
“We are making a lot (fewer) young mistakes (compared to a year ago),” Nelson said. “And we are making a lot less mistakes from the beginning of the year to now. These kids are gaining confidence as they see their success. And they all work hard.”
Nelson has found everything to like about this crew.
“They do everything I ask of them,” he said. “They’re great kids. And when you are dealing with great kids, it’s great to coach them.”
Pat has been a Post Bulletin sports reporter since 1994. He covers Rochester John Marshall football, as well as a variety of other southeastern Minnesota football teams. Among my other southeastern Minnesota high school beats are girls basketball, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track and field, high school and American Legion baseball, volleyball, University of Minnesota sports (on occasion) and the Timberwolves (on occasion). Readers can reach Pat at 507-285-7723 or pruff@postbulletin.com.