Franklin Girls

Three pointers

1 Kathrens has done a little bit of everything in the Franklin program this past decade, including head junior varsity coach (two years), varsity assistant (three), junior varsity assistant (one) and work with the select youth program. In that time, Franklin has qualified for state in four of the past 11 seasons.

2 The staff feels that the three veteran juniors (Mihalko, Eickhorst and Nord) all have a chance at being special. The youth brigade will get help from talented sophomore forward/center Montana Mack.

3 Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger: "The team will be really creative again," said Kathrens. "We'll run the break, use pressure. We'll be counting on a lot of people (14 on the roster). …We faced a lot of adversity last year. We didn't have a lot of stability early on, but all that we went through has helped us stay strong." The schedule includes defending state champion Nicolet and 2009-10 champion Pius XI in the Rathke Tournament.

Last year

Overall: 17-9

League: 8-6

Playoffs: Lost in super sectional to state runner-up Middleton, 61-59.

Conference: Southeast

The lowdown

The roller-coaster ride that was last season for the Sabers ended on a positive note with a sectional championship. The coaching situation that was in flux last season due to the resignation of Ron Kluth has now been settled as old program hand Kathrens will join forces with long-time assistants Guy Balistreri, Ron Hibben and Courtney Lukasavitz in what should be another promising season. Replacing Hill and Atkinson will be tough, but Franklin has a sound nucleus led by all-conference player Mihalko.

Personnel

Coach: Tony Kathrens (first year)

Key returnees: Cassidy Mihalko, Jr. (12 ppg.); Jenny Eickhorst, Jr. (7 ppg.); Katie Nord, Jr. (4.4 ppg.); and Alicia Dentici, Sr. (2.2 ppg.).

Key losses: Mariah Hill (11.2), Taylor Atkinson (8.9) and Jenna Coenen (7.5).

Schedule

Nov. 29 - at Greendale; Dec. 2 - Burlington; Dec. 9 - at Kenosha Bradford; Dec. 13- Oak Creek; Dec. 20 - at Racine Horlick; Dec. 27 - Rathke Tournament; Dec. 28 - Rathke Tournament; Dec. 29 - Rathke Tournament; Jan. 3 - Muskego; Jan. 6 - at Racine Park; Jan. 10 - at Kenosha Tremper; Jan. 13 - Racine Case; Jan. 20 - Kenosha Bradford; Jan. 27 - Milwaukee King; Jan. 31 - at Oak Creek; Feb. 3 - Racine Horlick; Feb. 7 - at Muskego; Feb. 10 - Racine Park; Feb. 17 - Kenosha Tremper; Feb. 20 - East Troy; Feb. 24 - at Racine Case; March 2 - at South Milwaukee; Feb. 22 - at Greenfield