CVC Girls Basketball

Cedar Valley girls aiming higher

Ron Slagle has been coaching many of the girls in the Cedar Valley Christian basketball program since they were in the fourth grade, either on the AAU circuit or at the school itself.

He's experienced all the growing pains along the way, but now thinks the Huskies are ready to a big step forward and compete for a Tri-Rivers Conference title in the next few years.

"We're shooting to be the Tri-Rivers Conference East champion within the next three years," Slagle said Thursday, "and I think it's very attainable on that side of the conference.

"The girls are tied of losing. They want to be considered a valid opponent for anybody and that's the mindset going forward. We want to make sure Cedar Valley gets put on the map before the next three years are over."

The Huskies nearly made it last year when they began the season with a 7-3 record, but superstar Shelby Hembera got hurt and missed the rest of the year. The team finished with an 8-14 record, going 1-11 without her.

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Cedar Valley changes basketball coaches

Jeff Pospisil has stepped aside as the boys basketball coach at Cedar Valley Christian after 23 years as the head coach.

Pospisil, who is the principal at Cedar Valley, was the coach of the Huskies ever since the team was started in 1992.

Craig Foote, who was the girls basketball coach at Cedar Valley for seven years, has succeeded Pospisil as the boys basketball coach. Ron Slagle, who was Foote's assistant with the girls program, has succeeded Foote as head coach.

Slagle has been the club basketball coach for the Cedar Valley girls in the Class of 2018.

Sellers, Botkin, Hembera saluted by IGCA

Lela Sellers and Stephanie Botkin of Kennedy have been named second team all-state in Class 5A by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association (IGCA).

Shelby Hembera of Cedar Valley Christian, who missed half the season with an ankle injury, was named third team all-state in Class 1A. She will play college basketball at Emmaus Bible College.

Sellers, a junior, played guard for the Cougars this season after moving here from Minnesota.

Botkin, a senior forward, has committed to play college basketball at Washington University in St. Louis.

Botkin, Hembera honored by Register

Stephanie Botkin of Kennedy and Shelby Hembera of Cedar Valley Christian have been named to the all-state basketball teams by the Des Moines Register.

Botkin, a 6-foot forward, was named second team all-state in Class 5A. She will play college basketball at Washington University in St. Louis.

Hembera, a 6-foot-1 forward, was named third team all-state in Class 1A. She will play college basketball at the Emmaus Bible College.