Madison Girls Basketball Eyes District Crown

Many athletic programs schedule weak early season opponents. But the girls basketball team, under head coach and alumna Kirsten Roberts, did just the opposite this year, scheduling its first two games against arguably two of the most talented teams they'll face all year.

Madison opened the season against West Springfield, the defending Northern Region champion, last week. After West Springfield, the team played a tough Georgetown Visitiation squad, the winner of five straight Independent School League titles.

While the Warhawks lost both games, it was only by a combined seven points. And Roberts hopes the early season test will prove beneficial for her team in district and postseason play.

“Playing tougher opponents teaches us what we need to strengthen and what we need to work on in practice,” the fourth-year coach said. “If we ever want to make it to the regional final, or even any part of the regional tournament, this helps us realize what we need to work on to get there.”

Roberts knows a thing or two about making it to the postseason.

A Madison High School graduate herself, Roberts (now Roberts Stone) was and boasts an impressive player resume that includes going undefeated in Liberty District play in each of her four seasons, winning two Northern Region titles and scoring 1,061 career points.

This season’s early tests helped in the Lady Warhawks’ following two contests. After losing 60-57 to Georgetown Visitation, the Warhawks defeated South County 88-54 and Chantilly 51-32, bringing the team’s record on the year to 2-2.

As the team enters Liberty District play this week, with a game at Stone Bridge tonight, it will be focused on repeating last season’s success and returning to the district tournament title game.

Last year, the Warhawks started last season strong, compiling a 5-2 record in January but falling four points short of a Liberty District final win. They were hoping to

This year, they have some of that experience on their side, as several players who helped guide the team to 17 wins return to the court.

Megan LeDuc, a three-year varsity starter at point guard, returns and will look to build on a successful 2010-11 campaign in which she earned All-Liberty District tournament honors. Armed with two years of experience, LeDuc, a junior, is a seasoned athlete who could emerge as the Liberty District’s most dominant player.

“She works hard at everything she does whether it’s school or basketball. She even works out on Sunday,”  Roberts said. “She’s become the leader. I no longer really call the plays, she does. She pretty much runs the team on the court once the game starts.”

Megan Henshaw, also a junior, led the Warhawks in scoring last season and returns at guard. Henshaw, who joined LeDuc in earning All-Liberty District tournament honors last season, is averaging 15.7 points per game this season and turned in a valiant 23 point effort that included four three-pointers in the team’s loss to Georgetown Visitation.

“I look to her for a lot of leadership as well as keeping the team’s composure out on the court,” Roberts said.

Freshman forward Kelly Koshuta, who stands tall at 6-foot-2, emerged as a solid contributor in the team’s two victories. Koshuta scored 26 points against South County and 22 against Chantilly. She also went 4-4 from the free throw line in the two contests. Roberts, who has an knack for recognizing and developing young talent, is impressed with her young forward and is eager to see the maturation of her game throughout the season.

“She’s coming on strong. The game is still a little bit quicker than it was when she was in eighth grade,” Roberts said. “But she’s definitely confident and we’re looking for a lot of things out of her as a freshman.”

With LeDuc and Henshaw providing veteran leadership, the Warhawks can realistically compete for the school’s third Liberty District title in four seasons, Roberts said.

“We have a lot of new players on the team. I hope that by the end of year we’re playing at our highest level," she said. "We want to be contenders in every game.”

Up Next: Madison travels to Liberty District foe Stone Bridge on Dec. 13 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.