The Calistoga High girls basketball team hopes that a rugged non-league schedule leads to an improved overall season.

The Wildcats, coming off a 6-15 season last winter, host a St. Helena team Saturday that went 23-3 last season and returns virtually all of its key ingredients.

Calistoga will also face a St. Vincent (Petaluma) team that had a 6-21 record last season but typically fields a strong team.

In addition, the Wildcats will participate in the San Dominico Tournament, an event in which head coach Genna Welsh expects to be facing strong competition.

“We have a pretty tough preseason, which is always good,” Welsh said. “We’ll play some teams in the preseason that we normally wouldn’t. It’ll be good to toughen us up. We’ll be in some battles where we will get beat up on and go into the Duffy Tournament and our league a little more prepared for some of the teams in our own league that we will hopefully match up.”

Welsh was referring to the Gene Duffy Holiday Classic, which Calistoga hosts Dec. 9-12.

Calistoga has nine players on its roster, with the returners being Megan Hunt, Laurel Oekter-Kast, Nicole Taylor, Jenna Reynolds, Sigrid Tristan and Rosa DeJesus.

Hunt was an All-North Central League II and All-Napa County selection as she averaged a double-double in scoring and rebounding.

The key, however, is staying healthy, as Oekter-Kast missed a good chunk of the season with injury.

“We have raw talent,” Welsh said. “Our seniors have some experience so I’m looking forward to Jenna, Megan, Rosa and Laurel to lead the pack.”

The remainder of the roster is made up of Jasmine Montanez, Claudia Aceves and Michelle Ramirez.

“I’m looking forward to another season,” Welsh said. “I always enjoy it. I believe we will surprise ourselves.” 

Ferndale 40, Calistoga 24

The Wildcats were plagued by slow starts in many games last season, and a 14-4 deficit after one quarter set them back on their heals in the early going of Friday’s season opener.

Ferndale extended that advantage to 23-8 at halftime and led 32-16 after three quarters. Hunt led the Wildcats with eight points followed by Taylor with four and DeJesus with three.

Kaitlyn Regli led Ferndale with 20 points.

“The plusses I took out of it is that our hustle is there,” Welsh said. “We are going to be able to work on our defense.”

Welsh also came away amply pleased with the efforts of Aceves and Ramirez, both of whom look like they can be viable contributors on the Calistoga varsity roster.

“Claudia and Michelle really proved that they could handle the varsity level,” Welsh said. “Michelle did a great job down low. Claudia is a warrior and stays nice and calm.”

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