Burlington Middle School girls conclude season

Middle school girls basketball wrapped up their season and Burlington’s Coach Mike Aagard was pleased with the outcome. “It was an awesome and memorable season, highlighted by strong teamwork, resilience and success at every level of the program.”

Lisa Winters and Nicolette Bullinger joined Aagard in coaching this season and they had 21 athletes: eight 8th graders, seven 7th graders and six 6th graders. “All three Burlington teams completed the regular season undefeated in conference play, an impressive accomplishment that speaks to the consistency and effort shown throughout the year. While the teams did suffer losses to tough out-of-conference opponents Cody and Powell, those games provided valuable experience and helped prepare the girls for postseason play.” 

Burlington struggled with illness the week before the tournament but entered the postseason with momentum and a first place seed. They struggled and fell in the semifinal against Rocky. “It was the team’s first loss to a conference opponent all season and despite playing with determination and heart, the girls came up short in that game. They responded the way champions do – by regrouping, refocusing and finishing the tournament strong with a third place victory,” said Aagard. 

Burlington’s eighth graders will be missed after this year. “They were such a fun group of girls and brought so much energy to the team and each brought something unique that added to the success of our team.

Addison Brunko was a great outside shot and made some important shots for us in some close games. She also had a very fun personality and made practices fun.  Chloe Cauffman was probably my most improved player from the 8th grade.  It was fun to watch her grow in both skills and confidence. She was a defensive giant on the floor and did a great job guarding her girl. Stella Davidson was an all around great player and could play in any position. She could push the ball down the floor and play inside against any post player. She was always asking for help to learn a new skill to improve herself. She was also very competitive, and stepped up when games got stressful. Emma McNiven was the self acclaimed ‘Dennis Rodman’ of the team. She wanted to get every rebound. She did a great job working the inside, getting good shots and getting rebounds. I had to hold my breath every time Emma was off the court, knowing that we were going to lose some rebounds.

Lucy McNiven will be missed for her leadership characteristics. When Lucy was not on the floor the team could feel it. She knew how to push her teammates in a way that coaches can’t. She was both a threat on offense and a machine like defensive player. Natalie McNiven is a kind, quiet girl with a lot of drive. Her strongest characteristic was her defensive determination. She was always in the right place at the right time with a big smile on her face. Personally, I would not want Natalie guarding me. Cambria Wicke led the team with offensive points almost every game. She is quick and is great at reading the floor. A lot of her points came from a steal on the wing and an easy layup. It was always fun to see just how fast she was as she pulled away from the defense on a fast break. If she wasn’t getting a steal she was bringing the ball down. She is a great ball handler and could handle the pressure. Our final 8th Grader was Brooklyn Winters. Brooklyn always has a smile on her face and is the biggest cheerleader for her teammates. She is always first to give a high five on a job well done, or the first to offer words of encouragement. Brooklyn was a big threat on the offensive side of the floor. She had a good drive and a nice jump shot. She was also very steady in what she did and I could count on her when things got tough.

As coaches we are proud not only of the team’s accomplishments on the court, but also of the character the players showed throughout the season. The girls represented Burlington Middle School with class, sportsmanship, and a strong work ethic, even when faced with injuries, illness and tough competition. While the season did not end exactly as hoped, it was a year filled with growth, effort, and pride. The Burlington Middle School girls basketball team set a high standard for future seasons and proved that success is measured not only in wins but in perseverance, teamwork and heart,” said Aagard.