Rough Start for Stars Hoopsters

The Holy Angels girls basketball team began its season with a 64-36 loss to the Hill-Murray Pioneers, the third-ranked team in the state, Tuesday night. The Stars took the court under new coach Nathan McGuire and were unfortunately unable to get the win.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game," McGuire said. "Hill-Murray has two Division-I players and can really shoot the ball."

The matchup between the Stars, which finished last season with a 4-24 record, and the 2010 state finalist Pioneers came out as it might have been predicted with the visitors from Maplewood, MN claiming the victory.

"I really thought we could have come out and competed and contended more," McGuire said. "We just turned the ball over too much and let them have too many offensive rebounds. Our half-court defense was good, so if we were able to control the ball better it would have been a closer game."

Hill-Murray scored the first points of the game on a two-point basket, six seconds into the game and never looked back.

Holy Angels' first points of the season came from senior forward Kayla Gonsior 1 minute, 50 seconds into the game and with sophomore guard Callie Hogan nailing the Stars' first three-pointer of the winter after four minutes of play.

However, Hill-Murray maintained firm control over the game. From the opening tip-off and taking a 33-17 halftime lead, to scoring the first 14 points of the second half and taking a 30-point advantage with just under 15 minutes to play.

While the Stars struggled to find a rhythm in the game, McGuire said that the girls are accepting the new coaching administration.

"There's been a lot of changes, but it has been positive and the girls have been committed," he said. "Hopefully, even with this little step back tonight, the girls will remain positive."

McGuire comes to the Stars after a two-year stint as head coach of the Henry Sibley girls basketball team—a program he also served as an assistant for. He takes over for Andy Cerisier, who resigned after one season with the Stars.

Holy Angels returned its two leading scorers from last year's team: Guards Liz Lecy  and Laura Margarit, are back for their junior and senior seasons, respectively. Lecy scored 13.6 points per game (ppg) in the 2009-10 season; Margarit with 12.5 ppg. Margarit led the Stars with 10 points in Tuesday night's game.

The new coach said he inherited a team with talent, but one that plays a lot of tough teams.

"The Missota Conference is very good," he said. "However, I believe our team is capable of being .500 or better in the conference."

McGuire also said that the team will pursue a goal of claiming a top-four seed in the section playoffs this season after taking a No. 8 seed last spring.

"Other than that," he said. "I just hope to keep this program moving upward."

After Tuesday's difficult matchup, the Stars will take on a team a bit more its size with a trip to Holy Family Catholic in Victoria, MN on Thursday night. The team defeated Holy Angels 53-51 last season and McGuire said he figures his team wouldn't mind turning the tables this year.

"I think there's a bit of a revenge factor there," he said.

Following the Thursday night trip to Victoria, the Stars return home to host its neighbor, and rival, Richfield High School on Saturday at 3 p.m.