Prescott basketball is back for some unfinished business in the 2020-2021 season.

The Cardinals were 14-0 in the Middle Border Conference (MBC) and Conference Champs, with a record of 21-4 overall, but fell to state-semifinalist Arcadia in the WIAA Sectionals a season ago.

Led by Michigan Tech commit Isabella Lenz, Prescott will look to dominate the MBC for another season.

Returning senior starters for the Cardinals are all-around player Bella Lenz, inside presence Nicole Dalman, versatile wing Tori Benck and point guard Sydney Matzek.

Lenz led the Cardinals in scoring a season ago and averaged 23.7 points per game last year, Dahlman was next with 12, while Benck added another 7.2. Lenz is expected to surpass 1,400 career points this week.

Although the Cardinals are ready for business this season, they’re taking everything a little bit slower and focusing on staying on the court.

“Our goals are to stay as healthy as we can so we can play as many games as we can,” Head Coach Rob Radloff said. “Covid has changed strategies on multiple levels. We are day to day with the uncertainty of what the future will bring.”

The Cardinals may have some fresh faces on the court, but they have big expectations this season after going undefeated in MBC play a season ago. Juniors Brynley Goehring and Erin Boatman will be joined by sophomores Rylie Radloff, Katrina Budworth, Rhi Stutz, Izzy Matzek and Liz Rohl, as well as freshman scorer Lila Posthuma to add depth to the talented roster.

“We have great depth,” enamored Radloff. “We have great practices because of the high level of competition from our depth.”

After such an outstanding season, the Cardinals enter this year as MBC’s team to beat.

“We play game by game and know there is a target on our back. If we play to our capability, we will be tough to beat,” Radloff said.

The Middle Border Conference looks to once again be one of the most competitive conferences in the state.

“MBC always has great competition, and this year is no different. We weren't picked to win the conference last year and went undefeated. I hope the MBC can get in as many games as we can. These girls need to play,” Radloff stated. “Any game night you never know who will have a full team or if they are missing players.”_ The Cardinals are prepared to play through a strange year.

“We are strict about playing with the masks and getting conditioned with them. Luckily, we can rotate players frequently with our depth. Masks are just a safety precaution. We lost our JV and C team players after our first game because we played a team that had a girl that tested positive and we were in close contact,” Radloff said.

After the first game of the season, the hard work the Cardinals put in this past offseason was evident.

“We've worked a lot on skills, and it is paying off,” Radloff explained. “Our outside shooting was great and our ability to get to the hoop also improved. We should have a fun year!”

The Cardinals were back in action at Hudson on Tuesday night after the printing of this publication. They host Somerset this Friday

Photos from Prescott Girls Basketball Facebook page.