Girls’ Basketball

2006-07 Season 

Head Coach: Kevin Klein

Assistant Coach: Rob Newton 

DMC Girls’ Basketball: On the Road to State

By Rachel Thune ‘08

     After preparing all season for their first-ever trip to the State Tournament, the DMC girls’ fate seemed to be decided in the final 16.5 seconds of the fourth quarter, when a wobbly-but-true Guthrie Center three-pointer sent the game into overtime. The team struggled to gain back its momentum from earlier in the game, and the girls were sent home after a devastating 29-27 loss to their arch-rival.

    While the loss had abruptly ended the girls’ hopes for an appearance at the Tournament, they left the season as the most successful DMC girls’ basketball team in school history. Senior guard Amanda Nikkel led the team in scoring with 12.1 points per game, securing a West Central First Team All-Conference award as well as a spot on the All-District Team. Nikkel also broke the school record of total career points with 946. Junior post Rachel Thune blocked 161 shots for the Lions this year, breaking the previous state record of 150 to become the Single-Season Blocked Shot leader in classes 1A-4A. Thune also pulled down the most rebounds for the Lions and earned a Second Team All-Conference award. Senior guard and defensive powerhouse Kristen Nordaker and junior point guard Becca McCoy, who led the Lions in assists and steals, received Honorable Mentions.

     The team was obviously disappointed in the outcome of the regional final game (at which no previous DMC girls’ basketball team had ever made an appearance), but the girls and coach Kevin Klein, who will begin his fifth year as DMC head coach next year, are determined to make it to the regional finals in 2008 – and perhaps even to the State Tournament. While the team graduated two senior starters, the returning players are confident that an able bench will be ready to fill in the gaps.

Season Record: 21-4

WCAC Conference Record: 18-3

DMCS 2006-07 Girls Basketball Team

Amanda Nikkel 2006-07