Silver Lake girls basketball looks to improve on last year, when it had 1st winning season since 2016

The Silver Lake girls basketball team ended its season last year as the 3A substate champions with a 12-10 record, losing in the first round of the state tournament.

That was the team's first winning season since 2016, when it won the state title.

This year, head coach Kyle Porter's second year at Silver Lake, started it with a mindset to produce daily habits and growth.

Four returning starting players from last year's team, working to fill a unique role in the offseason, entered the year prepared to take on the challenge.

“We’re trying to get better each day,” Porter said. “We want to work to improve scoring and transitioning. We want to work to play consistently, tough defense, gain each and every possession and rebound, and prevent second-chance shot opportunities.”

More: Silver Lake basketball sweeps: 'It’s going to be really hard for teams to guard all five of us'

Porter said his focus is not to get to states, but to work each day to make dreams a reality. For this to happen, Porter advises players to acknowledge that mistakes will be made and then put the effort in to switch up this pattern.

Four starters: sophomore forward Mackenzie McDaniel, junior forward Taylor Ross, sophomore guard McKinley Kruger, and junior guard Mariah Farmer stepped up this year to teach the incoming freshmen, providing leadership and partnership on the court.

“We have a picture of Hutch Stadium (from 2016) in our locker room,” said McDaniel, a center. “I feel like last year, I would just be thinking something, and (Taylor) Ross would do it. It’s like we can read each other's minds. She knows where I am (on the court.)"

Ross, a power forward, said that it’s important to be present in each practice and game.

“We know each other on and off the court,” Ross said. “We empty our tank every day. We give everything we have on the court.”

More: Silver Lake boys basketball looking for next point guard: 'We need somebody who’s going to take charge'

Kruger, a point guard, said that the starters' role is to stay positive and encourage each other, assuming the role as team leader.

“It’s kind of my role to be a team leader,” Kruger said. “I feel like I’ve gotten better at being vocal and letting everyone know what’s going on and doing what’s best for them.”

Farmer, a shooting guard, hopes to make it to states but noted the added pressure to succeed. Coach Porter said the team’s biggest competition is themselves.

“We’ve had to step up this year,” Farmer said. “I feel like a bit of pressure would be everybody wanting to play their best game against us.”

Other players that will be fighting for roles include sophomore guard Kaibryn Kruger, junior guard Lexis Berndt, senior forward Lauren Rollenhagen, sophomore forward Kaylee Deiter, sophomore guard Sarah Wehrli and junior forward Lanie Koelliker.

“(These starters) each fill a unique role on our team,” said Porter. “Kruger, she’s a gym rat. She loves the game. She’s level-headed. Farmer provides experience and maturity. Ross brings positive emotion to the team McKinley’s presence inside the team poses a lot of threat.”

Silver Lake entered the break with a 4-0 record, their best start since 2015-16, with wins over Jefferson West (48-41), Council Grove (60-42), Riley County (55-27) and St. Marys (56-46).

It's been a balanced attack for Silver Lake with four different players who have led the team in scoring in each of those games, with three players averaging double-digit points.

Silver Lake returns to action on Jan. 4 when it hosts Rossville in the War on 24.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Silver Lake High School girls basketball returns four starters