Introduction of a shot clock and move to 4A won't slow the Ballard girls down in 2022-23

The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Ballard girls basketball program.

The Bombers will need to change their game a little bit during the 2022-2023 season with the introduction of a 35-second shot clock, a move back up to Class 4A from 3A and the replacement of three outstanding players in all-state guard Brooke Loewe and all-conference performers Meg Rietz and Kylie Rigby. But none of that will deter one of the most successful programs in Iowa since the move to 5-on-5 basketball nearly 30 years ago from competing for another Raccoon River Conference championship and a return to the state finals for the third year in a row.

"Nothing changes with our goals," Ballard head coach Kelly Anderson said. "Win the conference and get back down to the Well (Wells Fargo Arena) and do some damage down there. I think these girls are definitely capable of doing that."

Two years ago Ballard won its second-ever state championship, taking the 4A crown under the leadership of Molly Ihle, Josie Fleischmann, Cassidy Thompson, Ashley Wuestenberg and Sydney Briggs. Last year Loewe, Rietz and Rigby took the Bombers back to the championship game, this time in 3A, where they fell to Estherville-Lincoln Central.

The 2021 senior class was a fun-loving group that also worked extremely hard and that continued last season. Anderson wasn't sure if the Bombers were going to keep it up this winter, but after one week of practice its clear the 2022-2023 season is going to be another enjoyable experience for the Bomber coach.

"This is a fun group," Anderson said. "I didn't realize it until the first day of practice. They're laughing all the time, but they're working really hard. I've been doing this going on my 12th year, I'm up there in age and you never know if you're going to get excited or you start to taper off, but man I look forward to coming here every day."

More:How Ballard overcame heavy losses to make another state title game: Bomber girls place second in 3A

Ballard has become one of the elite defensive programs in the entire state since the Ihle-led group ended a short state tournament drought with a trip to Des Moines in 2020 before winning it all the next year. Last season Ballard only gave up 31.4 points per game, the fewest in 3A.

The introduction of a shot clock won't change philosophy.

"We want to create a new state where we see how many times during a game we force a shot clock violation," Anderson said. "Can we get three a game, which is definitely what we're going to try and do."

Ballard has never had problems scoring on offense, averaging 52.7 points on 41.3% shooting from the field and 68.5% from the line with 174 3-pointers in 2021-2022. The shot clock will force Ballard to make a couple adjustments at the end of close games, but otherwise Anderson doesn't expect it to be much of a factor when Ballard has the ball.

"When we were scrimmaging you didn't even know it was there," Anderson said. "There is going to be a little strategy to it along the way. I'm known for when there's a minute left in the quarter, we're going to take the ball, stand at halfcourt and run the clock down and get our shot. I can't do that this year. There are a few things you have to play some games with, but otherwise I don't think it'll make that big of a difference."

Anderson said he expects North Polk and Carlisle to be the biggest threats to dethroning Ballard in the RRC this season.

"I'm sure everyone will consider North Polk the favorite with everyone they're bringing back," Anderson said. "That's fine. We're going to be right there."

More:Two Bombers make 3A all-tournament team: Beall, Loewe honored

Ballard will rely on four key players to steer the ship until the inexperienced players get their feet wet and the team can start to develop quality depth.

Returning for Ballard are 2022 3A all-tournament guard Lily Beall, two-year mainstay Lily Hillebrand, versatile 6-0 forward Alliyah Thompson and rising sharpshooter Paige Noe. Beall, Hillebrand and Noe are seniors and Thompson is entering her junior year.

"We're hoping to get back to the Well and get to that championship game for the third year in a row," Beall said. "We're working really hard, playing as a team and doing all the little things that we do like play defense."

Beall averaged 3.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 assists a year ago. She came on strong during the state tournament and her game is very similar to what Ihle brought to the table as an elite defender on the perimeter who can also handle the ball, rebound and make clutch baskets.

Hillebrand averaged 6.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists and made 33 3-pointers during her junior year. She's eager to show the rest of 4A that Ballard will still be a force to be reckoned with this season.

"It's a different team this year," Hillebrand said. "But I think we'll show on the court how much we've worked together. We're making sure we're pushing oursevels."

Thompson played the stretch-forward role last year and was huge off the bench, especially during state. She averaged 3.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals and shot 49.4 % from the floor last season.

"I'm really excited for this year," Thompson said. "I'll go wherever I'm needed. My main goal is to contribute to the team."

Noe hit six 3-pointers without a miss last year in a regional semifinal win over Chariton and she averaged 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds while converting 19 3-pointers on a team-best 47.5 % accuracy.

"We're definitely looking at Paige," Anderson said. "She was first off the bench and got some really good playing time at the state tournament."

The key will be finding that fifth starter and two or three other girls who can make major contributions off the bench. Anderson doesn't feel like that is going to be a problem.

"When you have a program and have girls who have stayed with you for four years, when they get to be seniors all of the sudden they step up," Anderson said. "We had Syd Briggs and Ashley do that two years ago. We get girls to do that."

Senior Kasey Larson and Juniors Alise Van Pelt and Kylie Calvert are the top candidates to fill the other starting spot and provide quality depth.

Ballard opens the season next Friday on the road. They Bombers will face Dallas Center-Grimes in what will likely be a match-up of two top-10 4A teams at Grimes.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ballard girls plan to keep winning ways going in 2022-2023