By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West interim girls basketball coach Angie Ketterman is playing catch-up after being tapped to take over the program about two weeks before the start of preseason practice.
But very few people know Topeka West better than Ketterman, and the veteran coach will count on that institutional and athletic knowledge to make up for lost time.
Zoe Clark (35), a four-year varsity player and second-team All-Shawnee County pick last season, will be counted on to provive leadership for Topeka West's girls basketball team. [File photo/TSN]
Ketterman is a Topeka West graduate and played and served as an assistant coach for West coaching legend Mike Goehring and was on the staff of former Charger coach Becky Svaty while also serving as the Chargers' head softball coach.
The goal now for Ketterman, West's third head coach since March, is to provide some stability for the Chargers.
Jeff Skar resigned following the 2022-2023 season and his replacement, Brent Reese-Hackett, was relieved of his duties last month for undisclosed reasons after being named as Skar's successor in July.
West's administration quickly turned to Ketterman to get things back on an even keel for the West program.
"I was open to it,'' Ketterman said. "Svaty contacted me and then Laura Nichols (a former West coach and current administrator) did,'' Ketterman said. "They said, 'You've got the weekend to decide.'
"It took me about 24 hours and I'm like, 'Let's do it.' ''
Topeka West has struggled off and on in recent years after winning Class 6A and 5A state championships under Goehring, but two weeks into her new position, Ketterman is thrilled with what she's seen out of her Chargers.
"It's going good,'' Ketterman said. "The girls are responding and they're working hard. There's a lot of talent in this gym. It's fun to see, and it's good to be back.''
Senior Zoe Clark will be counted on to provide leadership for the Chargers after earning second-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County and United Kansas Conference recognition a year ago.
Senior Rebecca Bearman also has considerable varsity experience for Topeka West while sophomore Imani McGlory came on strong for the Chargers at the end of her freshman season.
After posting just two wins in 2021-2022 Topeka West showed a five-win jump last season.
Now the key according to Ketterman is to continue to make steady progress.
"It's day by day and they're stepping in here and they're working hard every day,'' Ketterman said. "These girls are hungry for wins, and they're doing good, they really are.''
"We want to see where we're at come Christmas time and then just build for the end of the season.''
TOPEKA WEST GIRLS BASKETBALL
2023-2024 schedule
December -- 1 Basehor-Linwood, 5 Seaman, 8 at Shawnee Heights, 12 Lansing, 14 Junction City, 15 at Turner.
January -- 5 De Soto, 12 at Piper, 16 at Basehor-Linwood, 19 Leavenworth, 25-27 Capital City Classic at Seaman, 30 at Lansing.
February -- 2 Turner, 6 Shawnee Heights, 9 at Seaman, 13 at De Soto, 20 Piper, 23 at Leavenworth.
