They are going to be good, that is for sure, but the question is just how good will they be? They refers to the  Hudson High School Lady Tiger varsity basketball team. It has been five years since the Lady Tigers had a good team with Ash and Eve leading the way to 14 wins and it has been nine years since Hudson has had a great team with the 1997 squad going 21-3. Get ready for what could very well be a team that is somewhere in between those two former teams. This very well could be a breakout year for the Hudson hoop program, if all goes as expected. The team is loaded with experience and talent a combination that most schools don’t have. From a team that had just seven players a year ago six of them return and a seventh girl played some on the varsity in 2005. The 9-12 record from 2005 will most likely be the last losing season for the Lady Tigers for quite a while. “We have to stay healthy and avoid foul problems,” said Tiger head coach Tom Romanowski, who enters his 13th season at the helm of the Lady Tiger program. “We can score and all of our offense from last year except six points a game is back. We averaged 49 points per game last year and should be well into the 50’s this season. However, we need to be better defensively and that has been an area of emphasis so far in the early season practices.” If Hudson scores like it is capable of and improves its defense that allowed over 50 points a game last year then it should be a season to rejoice and remember this fall. The following is a closer look at who will be on the floor for the Lady Tigers this autumn as they look to have a winning season. 

The Elite Eight
Romanowski will have one more player on his varsity squad this season than last year’s sweet seven. He heads into game action next Tuesday at Hillsdale in the Domino’s Classic with a team that he likes and one that is full of potential. “We have several girls that can score so no team can focus on just one player they have to stop,” said Romanowski, who is 107-151 in his first twelve seasons. “Of the eight girls I have six of them who are capable of scoring 20 points on any given night. We have size, quickness and girls that get up and down the floor. The girls are experienced and they are capable of some big things. When we are on our game we can beat anyone on our schedule but at times we play just like the team we are playing and we drop to that level. We need to be consistent in how we play and we need to keep improving all season long.” The team will have two seniors and one with experience playing last year. Alyson Monahan returns to play the guard spot. She had a season-high of 18 points one game last year and she can score. The biggest concern with Monahan is her staying healthy as she suffered a concussion last fall and was sidelined for the rest of the season. “She is a leader and we need her out there,” said Romanowski, who loves the work ethic and emotional leadership that Monahan brings to the team. “She hustles and is all over the place and leads by example.” Lyndi Six is the second senior and she returns to the hardwood after not playing much the last two years. She will help out when and where needed but Romanowski is just happy to have her for the added depth it provides the team with. Juniors Kellee Wonders and Sheila Komarynski provide the team with rebounding and scoring not to mention good size under the basket. Wonders at 5-11 is the team’s tallest player and she was the second leading scorer last year with 10.4 point per game. She led in rebounding with 9.3 a game but she is capable of putting up some huge numbers. Last year against Blissfield she scored 19 points and grabbed 19 rebounds then the next time against the Royals her numbers were 18 points and 12 boards. “She can play some great games and I just want her to be a bit more consistent this season but she has the ability to score and rebound that we are looking for,.” said Romanowski. Komarynski at 5-9 is tough under the hoop as she was third in rebounding last year with 6.1 boards a game. “Sheila has really improved her game and she is going to have a great season,” said Romanowski, who is expecting her to be a leading rebounder and scorer this season.

The team’s third and final junior is Janet Verdon who played five games on the varsity last year after moving up when Monahan went out for the season. “Janet can play good defense and she will help us off the bench and we will need quality minutes from her,” noted the coach. The team has three superb sophomores with all three spending lots of minutes on the floor last autumn. Rachel Pawson is the team’s point guard where she led the team in steals and assists last year. She also scored 8.8 ppg and she can hit the three-point shot. Romanowski calls her a top-notch defender who also brings an improved shot to the team this fall. Sophomore Aubrey Laughlin was the team’s leading scorer in 2005 with 10.6 ppg and she was second in rebounding with 6.8 ppg. She also led the team in having the best free throw percentage at 63 %. The talented athlete has a fine jump shot and can score either inside or out. “She could very well have a big year and we need that from her,’ said Romanowski about Laughlin who scored 20 points in one game last season. The third sophomore is Mykahla Frayer who came off the bench last year but is projected to start on the wing this season. “She is tough on defense with her long arms and then on offense she moves well to the basket,” Romanowski said about the 5-8 player who can also nail the 3-point shot. The team should definitely be above the .500 mark in total wins and they should be in the top half of the seven-team LCAA. Ida is the league favorite but Romanowski knows if his team plays well they can beat the Bluestreaks. Blissfield should also be solid and Hudson plays both league powers the second week of the season and both games are at home. The regular season will tip-off on Tuesday at about 7:30 in the second game of the Dominos Pizza tournament at Hillsdale and the second game of the tourney will be on Wednesday the 30th. Hudson will play host Hillsdale in the second game of the night.

Romanowski will again be helped by long-time assistant coach Scott Reincke. On the junior varsity team will be about 14 players led by head coach Mike Sprow and assisted by his daughter Stephanie.

This should be an exciting and winning season for the Lady Tigers so get on over to Maple Grove to watch them. The first home game is against Blissfield on Tuesday, September 5th and Ida is at home on the 7th. Throw in a Saturday home game against John Irelan’s Pittsford’s Wildcats and it will be a big home week September 5-9 for the Lady Tigers. Varsity games start at about 6:30 after the J.V.’s games begin at 5:00.

                                                             To Index