The St. Michael varisty girls will open the season on Nov. 7 at Madison Academy. The varisty boys will open the season at home on Nov. 10 against Elberta.

ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC BOYS

Head coach Daniel Nolan enters his sixth season at St. Michael Catholic with one of his most experienced rosters yet. The Cardinals finished 9-15 last year, placing as runners-up in Class 4A Area 1 to Orange Beach before falling in the sub-regional round of the playoffs. With seven seniors, three juniors and a sophomore, Nolan’s group brings both leadership and familiarity into the new season.

Seniors Cooper Helper and Kamarjay Lavoie will anchor the lineup after leading the team in scoring last season, each averaging 13 points per game. Lavoie is also a key member of the currently undefeated football team, while Helper is a consistent perimeter shooter and defender.

“I am hoping we can take last year and get a little more confidence,” Nolan said. “Use that experience that we have from last year to win a few more games, some of those tight games. We lost five or six tight games that were between one and four points last year. Hopefully with our experience and some more confidence we can turn those games around.”

ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC GIRLS

Head coach David Offerle is entering his 10th year with the St. Michael girls program and has been there since the school opened. The Lady Cardinals are coming off a 24-4 season that ended with a trip to the Class 4A Final Four, and they return their entire roster from that deep playoff run.

Offerle laughed when asked about his coaching philosophy, pointing to seniors Caroline Callahan and Sam Kokoszka.

“Give these two the ball,” he joked. “It changes on who you have really. These two make my job a lot easier, but it’s putting kids in a position where they can do what they can do. Try not to make them uncomfortable while trying to make them as comfortable as possible because the other team is going to make you uncomfortable.”

Callahan has played varsity since eighth grade and is a versatile post player who can contribute anywhere on the floor. Kokoszka is a shooting guard and small forward, also being part of the program since seventh grade. Together, the seniors — who call themselves a “dynamic duo,” according to Kokoszka — play off one another well through pick-and-roll sets and screening actions.