Scouting Hampshire Whip-Purs

Hampshire Whip-Purs

Last year: 11-17 (5-7 FVC Fox)

Coach: Mike Featherly (1st year)

Top returning players: Seniors Becky Dumoulin (5-9, G-F), Sara Finn (5-6, G); junior Tricia Dumoulin (5-9, G-F); sophomores Nikki Dumoulin (5-8, G), Emma Benoit (6-2, F)

Key newcomers: Junior Claudia Lazar (5-7, G), freshman Peyton DeChant (6-0, G-F)

Outlook: Featherly takes over for Ed Haugens, but is no stranger to basketball at the school. Featherly was the Hampshire boys varsity assistant and stepped in as interim coach for a stretch while head coach Bob Barnett recovered from heart issues last season. He also was the boys sophomore coach for two years and the boys freshman coach for five years at the school. He inherits a roster that features a core of five players (the three Dumoulins, Finn and Benoit) who all logged varsity minutes last year. “They all have different strengths they bring to the court,” said Featherly of the quintet. “They all have varsity experience and they all bring a different dynamic to the team. Nikki and Emma had full seasons on the varsity as freshmen.” DeChant will help the team as a ninth-grader this year. “Peyton is a very good athlete,” said Featherly. “She probably will be one of the most athletic girls on the court.” Featherly has been pleased with the work ethic he has seen since the summer. “This group has an excellent work ethic,” he said. “If we continue to work hard and if we continue to learn like we have been, we could be a pretty dangerous team. The effort is there. We just have to be patient and measure progress in different ways at the beginning of the season.”