BRODHEAD — The Cardinals finished last season with twice as many wins as losses (16-8), and a respectable 11-7 record in the Rock Valley.

In fact, seventh-year head coach Brian Kammerer graduated just one starter — captain and honorable mention guard Carissa Purdue, who averaged nearly 10 points a game.

Returning for Brodhead is a slew of young but varsity-experienced talent to the court. Kiarra Moe (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rebounds), a junior, was a second-team all-conference pick and the program’s MVP last season. Inside, sophomore Abbie Dix (15.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg) was a first-team selection and has impressed during the offseason on the AAU circuit playing for Let It Rain.

On the outside, junior guards Madison Kail (5.8 ppg), Onnikah Oliver (5.8 ppg) and sophomore Alexis Kammerer (2.7 ppg) have the ability to keep defensive spread out.

Other returning letterwinners include Joie Steinmann, Emaleigh McNeese, Tori Urness, Taetum Hoesly and Kaidynce Bevars. Senior newcomer Savannah Schwartzlow will also see action on the court this year.

“With the majority of our team coming back from last season, composed of primarily juniors and sophomores, I would expect to be competitive night in and out,” coach Kammerer said. “I believe we will be more versatile on the offensive end, with numerous girls having the ability to score on a given night. This team is very unselfish and distributes the ball well.”

The biggest unknown for the Cardinals — as with the rest of the teams on their schedule — is the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rock Valley Conference, which will not sponsor conference champions this winter season, has put in place some heavy restrictions on its schools returning to play, including not allowing any non-essential personnel, like fans and media. 

“With the unknown in our current pandemic, we must appreciate every night we are able to take the floor. We must learn to accept our roles and get better every night,” coach Kammerer said.