As Division II state champs last year, Notre Dame’s varsity girls basketball team set high hopes in the beginning of their season to return to state and defend their title, and they were successful.

This past Saturday, the team beat Cedarburg in Sheboygan with a score of 64-46.  Their first game of the state tournament will be held Friday at 1:35 at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

“Winning state last year was so special, but it’s a different team and a different year.  Our goal was to get to state.  Now that we are there, we have a higher goal which is to win,” senior Eliza Campbell said.

The team prepared for their journey to state one game at a time.

“Some hopes coming into the season was definitely working to get better every single day.  We talked about this a lot as a team and I think it helped us stay focused every day at practice to reach our goals, like gettings first in conference and going back to state,” senior Allie LeClaire said.

The team has only lost one game so far this season, to Sheboygan North.  Coach Rohde says the girls have been tested this season, and the loss taught them somethings.

“Every game is a new challenge and we have learned something regardless if it has been a win or a loss.  I don’t know that we have had difficulties just because our team chemistry is the best of any team I have coached at NDA,” Coach Rohde said.

Coach Rohde also says she is confident in the girls.  She believes if the team comes to play the way they are capable of playing, they can compete with and/or beat any team they face.

There are four current seniors on the team, and Coach Sara Rohde says they play a very important role on the team.

“Obviously Allie and Eliza have been a huge part of NDA basketball for the past three years with the Varsity program – they have the ability to make a lot of things happen on the floor.  Caroline and Hannah have played different roles but have both been very positive leaders for us on and off the floor.  Each one of these girls has put a lot of time and dedication into helping our program get to where it is now,” Coach Rohde said.

Both LeClaire and Campbell are planning on playing college basketball next fall.  Campbell is going to the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, while LeClaire will attend the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.

Neither girl has officially decided what she wants to study.

“I have ideas but not for sure. I have been talking to my mom and other teachers about education, but I guess we will see,” Campbell stated.

“I am thinking about going into something in the medical field, but I’m not positive yet.  I am just going to go in and see what I like and decide after that.  I would love to play basketball overseas one day or become a coach because I know I’ll never be able to walk away from the game I love,” LeClaire added.

LeClaire and Campbell both offered advice to the underclassmen players.

“Give it your all.  These opportunities do not come a lot, so take advantage of it,” Campbell stated.

“Always work hard and control what you can control.  There’s going to be days when things get exhausting and you’re just going to want to settle, but always go the extra mile and remember to have fun and always believe,” LeClaire advised.