Madie Bacon finishes a jump shot at Monday’s Jamboree in Grinnell. The Trojans played English Valley for two quarters to start off the season. Chroncile Photo/Allison Graham

The South Tama Girls Basketball team began their season at the Grinnell Jamboree on Monday, November 16. The annual Jamboree is a fundraiser for local food pantries in the Grinnell area.

Teams invited to the Jamboree included Oskaloosa, Carlisle, East Marshall, Knoxville, BGM, and English Valleys.

The Trojans tipped off for two quarters against the Class 1A English Valleys Bears.

South Tama’s season ended last year with a loss to Nevada in the Girls Regional Semi-Final matchup. Nevada went on to capture the Class 3A State Championship.

“This season the emphasis is going to be what we say when we break out of a huddle is “a and e” which is attitude and effort. We are really trying to reinforce that. I am trying to stay more positive with them about their attitudes and promoting good attitudes. We encourage them to give 100 percent effort all of the time and not get down with each other and try and make a more cohesive unit,” said head coach Marsha Keahna.

South Tama’s roster includes seniors: Alyssia Keahna, Dani Stubbs, Kallie Hala, Madie Bacon, Ryan Roberts and Tyranny Keahna; juniors: Abby Llewellyn, Allison Yuska, Kaitlin Berger, Lauren Yuska, Macie Fritz, Minnie Climer, Shae Slaven and Shayla Peshel; sophomores: Grace Jimenez, Jessica Timm, Sadie Smith and Saylor Upah.

All players with the exception of one are returners to the STC basketball program. Returners to the varsity squad include Bacon, Hala, Keahna and Stubbs. Bacon and Keahna lead the team in scoring averaging 14 ppg. Kahn also closed out last season with 61 blocks and averaged seven rebounds per game while Bacon had 34 steals and averaged five rebounds per game. Stubbs lead in assists with 40 and averaged five rebounds per game.

All players with the exception of one are returners to the STC basketball program. Macie Fritz and her family moved into the South Tama district at the beginning of the 2015/16 school year.

According to Keahna the addition of Fritz has added some intensity at practice. Keahna praised the junior guard saying, “Macie has had a little bit to do with (the increased intensity) and I like what I see.”

The Trojans are going through some transition as last years assistant coach Kasey Smith resigned two weeks before the start of the season. But Keahna and freshman coach Chelsea Ahrens are up to the challenge of sharing this year’s coaching responsibilities and are remaining positive.

“I saw some good things with that tonight. The bench was good. When the starters came off and the bench went in they were good with it and everyone was cheering everyone on,” said Keahna.

South Tama also got in some play last weekend at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. They scrimmaged against some 4A teams and some 3A teams. The experience of the day had some difficulties but also gave the Trojans things to work on.

The regular season is set to begin with a match up against Western Dubuque from the WaMaC East on Tuesday, November 24 at the Roundhouse.

South Tama got in some play last weekend at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. They played some 4A teams and some 3A teams. The experience of the day had some difficulties but also gave the Trojans things to work on.

The regular season is set to begin with a match up against Western Dubuque from the WaMaC East on Tuesday, November 24 at the Roundhouse.