Since his hiring was made official on October 8, Adel-Desoto-Minburn Tigers varsity girls basketball coach Jacob Cleveland has been playing catch up trying to establish relationships with this year’s squad. One benefit the Tiger girls basketball squad does have going for them entering preseason practice last week is the amount of varsity experience this year’s returning players have. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network took part in the ADM Girls Basketball Media Day event Friday in Adel and noticed six players out for the team who’ve played in 20 or more varsity basketball games over their high school career. RVR asked Coach Cleveland his thoughts on having such a veteran group entering next week’s season opener. “You really can’t beat the senior support and the upperclassmen we have,” Cleveland said, “To be honest with you, they’re such role models for our young freshmen. They are nice young ladies that are going to be unbelievable citizens in society.”

Cleveland says while he’s excited to coach them this winter, he’s even more excited about what this year’s group of seniors will end up doing with their life after graduation. ADM has four upperclassmen who’ve played in over 40 varsity basketball games entering regular season competition next week. Senior Emma Jacobsen leads the way with 46 career games played, followed by senior Anna Kenny appearing in 45 games. Juniors Abbie Hlas and Delaney Bertman have also played in 44 and 43 career varsity games respectively. The ADM Tigers varsity girls basketball team opens the 2018-19 competition season in Adel this coming Monday, hosting the Norwalk Warriors in a nonconference contest. Listen to ADM basketball broadcasts all season long on True Country K 107.9, raccoonvalleyradio.com, and the KKRF mobile app.