Lady Panthers Basketball: Funk and Santillan look to make splash on varsity team

Practices for the Saco-Whitewater Lady Panthers kicked off November 20.

With the varsity squad losing only one senior, players that have seen extensive time on the JV squad are likely licking their chops at the possibility of moving up to play varsity ball.

Bailey Funk saw time on the team as an eighth grader. She played both Varsity and JV.

This year she will aim to see more playing time on varsity, though there are plenty of upperclassmen on the team.

"I am much more confident because I feel like I know the plays better and I can actually play the plays instead of thinking about what to do." Funk told the PCN.

Having decent handles, she will likely play the point guard.

"I handle the ball more than I shoot," she said.

She admitted that she can improve her game by shooting more.

Being one of the guards, Funk will likely be a key cog in Amber Erickson's traps and pressure filled defense.

"We play a really fast game and with me playing as an eighth grader, I got really used to it," Funk said.

The team will feature a couple of players from Hinsdale Schools as part of the new cooperative agreement.

"It's great for me because I actually started as a forth grader. I've already played with them and so I have an advantage," Funk said. "It's kind of nice."

Karly Santillan is also a second year player with the Lady Panthers.

She played on the JV squad last season with Funk.

"She shoots, I rebound," Santillan said.

In her second year on the team, Santillan has been practicing with confidence and that confidence landed her a spot on the Lady Panther's varsity squad.

"Last year, I didn't know a lot of people here and looking up at the team it is like wow I have to live up to that," Santillan said.

Inside the paint Santillan rates her shot a five of ten, meaning she's confident but could use some work.

If she was at the free throw line with five shots, she believes she would sink three of five.

Funk answered three as well.

"Three's a good number," Santillan said.

Santillan believes that having a year under her belt in Erickson's system helped her be ready for the year.

She also acknowledged her time on the volleyball court as a Malta M-ette helped.

She doesn't really know her teammates from Hinsdale yet, but she is confident they can play well together.

"I don't really know them personally but we've talked a couple of times and they seem like really nice girls," Santillan said.

When asked if she could dunk the ball, she replied, "nope."