As basketball season starts up again, the varsity girls are ready to fight and hoping to make another appearance at state this year. This year’s team consists of nine players: four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores, and one freshman.

The girls basketball team has played in the state tournament every year for the past six years under head coach Kelli Wedin. They have placed no lower than fifth place throughout the past six years, placing second in 2014 and 2018, and winning it all in 2015 and 2017.

Last season the team’s overall league record was 14-0. They made it to the state championship at Gill Coliseum on March 9, but the team fell short to Marist Catholic with a final score of 44-59.

The first preseason game takes place on Dec. 4, when La Salle takes on Crescent Valley. They play 11 preseason games before their first official league game happens on Jan. 8 against Parkrose. According to sophomore Addi Wedin, La Salle’s biggest league competitor will be Wilsonville High School.

“We all have an amazing bond and are like family and we all have each other’s backs,” Wedin said. “We work well together and we are all so excited for this season.”

According to sophomore Mandy Sisul, each girl on the team brings a different set of skills to the team that makes them who they are. The team will be successful, she said, because of teamwork and support that the players have for each other.

The girls went on a team bonding trip to Lincoln Beach, Oregon, leaving on Friday, Nov. 16 and returning Sunday, Nov. 18. The team stayed in a beach house for two nights, Sisul says, where the team got to know each other better and bond before the season begins.

“I am very happy to be playing for this team and with this group of girls especially!” senior co-captain Alyson Miura said.

Kelli Wedin
Along with the bond the team has formed over the years, their passion for the game is another thing they share. According to Mandy Sisul, their lives wouldn’t be the same without basketball. The girls have all put in hard work and dedication to make it to where they are now and love the game more than anything else.

“I have been playing ever since I could walk,” junior Lindsay Drango said. “Honestly I can’t remember a time I wasn’t [playing]. I started playing because I was a very active kid and I was competitive. It didn’t take long before I completely fell in love with the sport.” 

The team graduated five seniors last year who played a vital role in making the old team what it was, especially since three of the five were on varsity for all four years.

“The players from last year brought continued leadership, positive energy, 100% effort and so much more,” coach Kelli Wedin said. “They left their legacy and some big shoes to fill, but I know this team is ready to step up to these challenges and we believe that tradition and culture never graduate.”

Transfer students Lauren Vreeken, Lindsay Drango, and Alyson Miura have joined the basketball team this year.

Lauren Vreeken was home schooled up until this year, when she started at La Salle as a senior. She was on varsity volleyball during the fall, but basketball is her primary sport.

“I transferred for a lot of reasons, but mainly because the academics were so rigorous,” Vreeken said.

Alyson Miura attended Clackamas High School until she transferred to La Salle her senior year. Miura has committed to the University of Southern California to play basketball next year.

“I transferred to La Salle my senior year to prepare me for college academically and athletically,” Miura said.

Lindsay Drango, a junior, transferred to La Salle this year after attending a public high school.

“I wanted to go to a smaller school again and I missed going to a Catholic school. I attended Our Lady Of The Lake Catholic School from grades K-8,” Drango said.

With the three transfers making new additions to this year’s team, the players hope to make it to the championship once again.

“I believe that we will go to the championship because placing second last year has just made us hungry to get first this year,” said sophomore Mandy Sisul, who is a small forward and shooting guard.

According to coach Kelli Wedin, the girls are all working incredibly hard and are driven daily by the high expectations they have for this team. She said their goal is always to compete at the highest level and continue to get better everyday as a team and as individuals as well.