Elizabeth Manns’ career season for the Oconto Falls High School girls basketball team could not have come at a better time.
As the Panthers endure a rebuilding effort, the senior has responded by carrying the team on her shoulders.
Manns, a four-year letter winner, notched a career-high 19 points in the Panthers’ season-opening loss to Antigo and has scored in double figures in 10 of the first 13 games. She leads the Bay Conference in 3-pointers with 24.
Coach Mike Kaczmarek Jr. acknowledged the team needed Manns to step up after losing multiple seniors to graduation last year.
“I have been very happy with her efforts,” Kaczmarek said. “She has a lot on her shoulders this year. She has to score for us, she has to rebound for us. Liz has hit some clutch shots for us.”
Manns’ clutch shooting helped lead the Panthers (6-8, 4-6 Bay) to a nailbiting 37-36 win against Bay Conference rival Marinette on Jan. 20. She scored 14 points, including four 3-pointers.
“I knew I had to step up because our team is pretty young and everybody is pretty new to the varsity team,” Manns said. “I expected it and am happy to take on the role.”
Two other returning starters, senior Kayla Virtues and junior Bailey Wolf, have also become team leaders.
Wolf is second on the team in scoring, averaging eight points per game, and has scored in double figures five times this season.
“She is my go-to girl, and we work really good together and really click out there,” Manns said.
The team is 0-4 when Manns and Wolf are both held to less than 10 points.
“Everybody knows that those two are our top scorers and our leaders and our ball handlers and our guards,” Kaczmarek said. “So everyone is out to shut those two down. They really have to work hard for their points.”
Virtues, Manns said, “brings her smiling personality and she always gets us up and always knows what to say. … She works her butt off, which helps the whole team to do better.”
When Manns has a difficult game, she relies on a supportive cast of teammates, she said.
“My team is really close and I think that we come and support each other and it really does help when everyone is having fun out there,” she said.
Manns not only is a scorer, but also ranks third in the Bay in steals with 20, through Jan. 19.
“She plays good solid man-to-man defense,” Kaczmarek said. “She has been great going in and digging out from the post.”
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