The Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (GCMS) varsity girls basketball team is coming off one of its most successful seasons. Last year, the Falcons finished with a 23-10 record and reached the sectional finals. Many key players from that team are returning for the 2024-25 season.
“I’m very excited for the season,” said senior Mallory Rosendahl. “We had a successful season last year, and with many players returning, I hope we can continue that success this year.”
Head coach Ross Harden praised the senior leadership from last year’s team for preparing the younger players. “Our seniors did a great job mentoring the team. The girls have set high goals for themselves, and we’re hoping to achieve them,” he said.
The Falcons will field a 16-player team, including five seniors. “The girls have been working hard in practice, and we’re excited for the season ahead,” Harden added.
Sophomore Lily Sizemore, who was named to the all-Heart of Illinois Conference (HOIC) first team last year, is a key returnee. “She had an outstanding season,” said Harden. Sizemore aims to improve her ballhandling, passing, and shooting efficiency this year. “We have high hopes for this season,” she said. “We’ve got some teams we need to get back at.”
One notable game on the Falcons’ schedule is a rematch with Cissna Park on Dec. 21. The two teams faced off in last year’s IHSA Class 1A Ridgeview Sectional championship, which GCMS lost 43-42 in double overtime. Sizemore noted, “They’re a good team, and we need to be ready for that game.” Harden added, “That’s going to be a big one for us.”
Rosendahl returns for her senior year after earning an all-HOIC Defensive Team honorable mention. “We have individual and team goals this season,” she said. “We want to meet those goals as we move through the season.”
Also returning for the Falcons are seniors Sophia Ray, Addy Kerchenfaut, and Lizzie Giroux. Ray earned an all-HOIC honorable mention last year. “I’m super excited,” said Ray. “We want to reach the same level as last year. It’ll be tough, but I think we can do it.”
GCMS is also looking to develop a few sophomores to fill out the varsity roster. Harden said, “We’re working on getting a few more players ready to contribute.”
The Falcons will kick off the season at the Tip-Off Classic in Fisher. “I’m looking forward to the Bunnie Tip-Off Tournament because that’s how we start our season,” Rosendahl said. “We hope to start strong there.” The Falcons will face Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Nov. 18, followed by games against Fisher, Tolono Unity, and Iroquois West later in the week.
GCMS won the Tip-Off Classic last year, and Harden sees it as an important early test. “It’s a good opportunity to jump right in and see where we’re at.”
Other key matchups include a home game against St. Thomas More on Dec. 3 and a road game at St. Joseph-Ogden on Jan. 4. The Falcons will also face tough competition in the HOIC, starting with Heyworth on Dec. 10 and Tremont on Dec. 17.
“We have a tough conference,” Ray said. “It’ll be challenging, but I believe we can compete with the best teams.”
GCMS will host several games in the coming months, including matchups with El Paso-Gridley on Dec. 19, Eureka on Jan. 9, and Lexington on Jan. 13. They will also play away games at Ridgeview and Deer Creek-Mackinaw at the end of January, with home games against Flanagan-Cornell and Fieldcrest in February. The Falcons are determined to take on the challenge and build on their success.
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