Xavier girls have high hopes on basketball court

CEDAR RAPIDS - This year, the Xavier girls' basketball team has a plan to not just qualify for state, but make a deep run.

The Saints upperclassmen starters are seniors Kylie Brown, Lexi Noonan and Kiana Stanek, and junior Amelia Ivester. The fifth starter is freshman Caitlynn Daniels.

'It's a cool and humbling experience to start varsity,” Daniels said. 'It will be a lot of fun playing with the upperclassmen.”

Daniels did a lot in the offseason to prepare for this upcoming season.

Most teams set goals at the start of the season. Daniels also has set some goals of her own.

'Our team goal is to make it to state,” Daniels said. 'I personally want to get better every game and improve my ball-handling skills.”

Although, Daniels has a lot of role models on the team, she mostly looks up to one particular senior - Stanek.

Stanek feels honored Daniels looks up to her.

'She (Stanek) is a good role model, and makes a lot of 3-pointers, which I'm hoping to do this upcoming season,” said Daniels, who ranks sixth on the team, averaging 6.0 points per game.

Stanek, who averages 8.5 points per game, is one of the four senior captains on the team.

'Being a captain is great opportunity. There are three other captains as well, and it's been amazing so far,” Stanek said. 'We try as hard as we can to make it a positive environment for all of the girls.”

The Saints are 2-3 heading into tonight's game at Linn-Mar, winning their season-opener on Nov. 22, 62-26 over Decorah and topping Dubuque Wahlert, 73-40.