The excitement surrounding the Eldorado girls' basketball program this season is met with a lot of fan fare.
Even if that fan is EHS girls basketball coach Scott Artman.
Artman returns four players with varsity experience and two players that averaged double figures a year ago when the Eagles were 17-14.
Back in the saddle is senior Paige Munds (9.5 points per game), along with juniors Lexie Mitchell (14 ppg) and Emma Wargel (8 ppg) and sophomore Lily Mosby (11.2 ppg).
Rounding out the roster is senior MiKayla Rash, sophomores Alexa Haenel, Lillan Gangard, Michaela Anderson and Emilee Sigler, along with freshman Alexis Bradford, Karis Lane, Kylie Oglesby, Adrienne Poore and Chloe Peck.
In his sixth year as head coach, Artman said collectively, this group is more focused.
"Having that many players back with varsity experience should be beneficial to us," Artman said. "They've shown where they have matured and look to take things to the next level. They're all very competitive in practice and I attribute some of that to the younger kids and I haven't always had that in the past. We had some ups and downs last year, but all in all, these kids experience last year and being a year older, should all come around this year."
Artman said even finishing three games over .500 was a taste of success he knows his girls are excited about doing again.
"Last year was a big turnaround for us," he added. "I look for that to go up this year. We are quicker getting up and the down the floor and I really like our transition game. We still expect to have a good free throw shooting team, I don't expect that to go down and I think we'll be good on the defensive end."
If there is a concern early on, Artman believes some aggressiveness on defense can lead to foul programs.
"That might take some time -- for some of them to settle in -- I think we're prone to foul trouble, but I also like the depth on our bench."
Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois Local Media News Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
Eldorado Girls Schedule
11-21 GOREVILLE 6:15 PM11-25 HARRISBURG 5 PM
12-3 at Gallatin Co. 6 PM
12-5 CARMI 6:15 PM
12-12 at Hamilton Co. 6:15 PM
12-14 at Herrin 6:30 PM
12-19 JOHNSTON CITY 6:15 PM
1-7 at Galatia 6 PM
1-9 at Frankfort 6:15 PM
1-14 MASSAC CO. 6:15 PM
1-16 at Carmi 6:15 PM
1-18 at LEMWC TBA
1-20 at LEMWC TBA
1-21 at LEMWC TBA
1-22 at LEMWC TBA
1-23 at LEMWC TBA
1-24 at LEMWC TBA
1-24 at LEMWC TBA
1-27 at Johnston City 6:15PM
1-30 HAMILTON CO. 6:15PM
2-3 FAIRFIELD 6:15PM
2-6 at Edwards Co. 6:15PM
2-8 at Mt. Carmel 6:30PM
Eldorado Girls Roster
No. Name Class
0 Alexa Haenel So.
1 Paige Munds Sr.
3 Emma Wargel Jr.
4 Lexie Mitchell Jr.
5 Alexis Bradford Fr.
10 MiKayla Rash Sr.
11 Lillian Gangard So.
14 Kylee Oglesby Fr.
15 Mackenzie Hogg Fr.
24 Michaela Anderson So.
25 Lilly Mosby So.
35 Chloe Peck Fr.
40 Karis Lane Fr.
42 Adrienne Poole Fr.
45 Emilee Sigler So.
Head Coach: Scott Artman
JV Coach: Ame Wiman