WARDEN — The last three state tournaments have been good to the Warden Cougars, who have left state tournaments with hardware in 2020, 2022 and 2023, including top-three finishes the past two seasons. 

The Cougars have their work cut out for them this winter after graduating two starters and some depth off of last season’s roster, including first-team all-leaguers Quinn Erdmann and JLynn Rios.

“A big thing for us this year is we’ve got to stay healthy and stay out of foul trouble,” Warden coach Josh Madsen said. “We’re not going to be as deep as we have been in the past, so that’s going to be tested.”

Returning to the court this season are reigning Eastern Washington Athletic Conference Player of the Year Lauryn Madsen and fellow all-league player Aliza Leinweber, both of whom are seniors. Also suiting up again are junior Lauren Chamberlain and Molly Sackmann, and joining the team this fall is newcomer Angelina Buck, who Madsen said can “really help us out.”

“We’ve got quite a few girls coming back that got varsity experience last year, and I think we’ve got a couple that are ready to take a big step forward in leadership, but more importantly in production.”

One of those players is freshman Makenna Klitzke, who was on the roster as an eighth-grader last season.

“She’s one that I really think is ready to take off and take a huge step forward,” Madsen said. “Very, very talented kid, super hard worker. Just loves to be in the gym.”

Madsen said a strength that has shown so far is the bond on the court, stemming from years of experience with one another.

“We’ve got a few seniors that have been around a long time, and we have one junior as well, and they’ve been in the program even before they were high schoolers; they were doing stuff with us in the off-season as middle schoolers,” Madsen said. “That continuity, they’re so used to the language and what we’re trying to do. We’re not starting from scratch, it’s really nice.”

During the off-season Warden played in a few tournaments, traveling to a team camp at Gonzaga as well.

“It tests our girls, especially the younger ones,” Madsen said. “Like, ‘OK, I can do this – I can compete at this level.’ It sort of forces them to a little bit. There’s not nearly as much on the line in the summertime.”

The Cougars finished the 2022-23 season 21-5, including an undefeated record in league contests. To make another run at the state tournament, Madsen said it’ll come down to playing well at the right time again.

“We felt like we were playing our best basketball in February and March, and that’s our goal again this year,” Madsen said. “Girls are working hard right now, but we understand that it’s a long season, and where we are right now is not nearly as important as where we want to be in February and March.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

Warden Girls Basketball Schedule

Nov. 28 — vs. Cashmere — 6 p.m.

Dec. 1 — vs. Granger — 6 p.m.

Dec. 2 — @ Mabton — 6 p.m.

Dec. 4 — @ Colfax — 6 p.m.

Dec. 7 — vs. Okanogan — 6 p.m.

Dec. 8 — @ Highland — 6 p.m.

Dec. 9 — @ Goldendale — 6 p.m.

Dec. 12 — @ Royal — 6 p.m.

Dec. 14 — vs. Walla Walla Valley — 6 p.m.

Dec. 16 — vs. Tonasket — 6 p.m.

Dec. 20 — @ Prosser — 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 27 — vs. Othello — 6 p.m.

Jan. 5 — @ Columbia (Burbank) — 6 p.m.

Jan. 12 — vs. River View — 6 p.m.

Jan. 13 — vs. Tri-Cities Prep — 6 p.m.

Jan. 18 — @ Walla Walla Valley — 6 p.m.

Jan. 26 — vs. Columbia (Burbank) — 6 p.m.

Jan. 27 — @ Tri-Cities Prep — 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 1 — @ River View — 6 p.m.

    Warden players celebrate on the bench after a made basket against Napavine in the third/fifth-place game last season in Spokane.
  

    The Cougars lost four seniors to graduation last season, including all-league talents in JLynn Rios and Quinn Erdmann (pictured).
  

    Warden players celebrate with the third-place trophy last season.