Injuries to key players derailed what had been a promising season for the Superior Central girls basketball team last winter.

The Cougars lost Alice Hancock and Sammy Johnson for much of the season, a duo that combined to average 30 points and grab 15 rebounds a game. Hancock has since graduated, but Johnson is back and ready to go.

“Sammy Johnson is healthy this year and will require opposing teams to focus on her defensively,” fifth-year head coach Skip Rutter said. “Our core is still young, and most of them have had to play varsity as freshmen or sophomores. This should start to pay off this year.”

Superior Central managed to finish 7-14 overall last season. The Cougars will be young again this year and will not have a junior varsity team.

“I’m expecting we can hold our own in the Skyline Conference [small school division],” Rutter said. “Munising has to be the favorite in our district this year, but we don’t mind that. [It] helps us focus on the goal of winning another district, something we haven’t done since 2022.”

Johnson is a senior this year, along with Stephanie Nordness. Juniors on the squad will be Ella Viau, Marissa Strohm, Janessa Perron and Addie Frusti. Rory Hancock, Kianna Perron and Peyton Adams are the sophomores on the team. Freshman Marlene Johnson and eighth-grader Aubri Kroupa round out the roster.

The Cougars opened their season at Engadine on Monday; hosted Munising on Wednesday; will play at home tonight against Rapid River; and will stay on their home court Tuesday, facing Carney- Nadeau.

“
Our core is still young, and most of them have had to play varsity as freshmen or sophomores. This should start to pay off this year. … I’m expecting we can hold our own in the Skyline Conference.

—Skip
Rutter

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