Each of the area’s girls basketball teams have seen some success early on in the season, with Oakville leading the way at 4-2. 

Head coach Laura Bishop says she is seeing improvement everyday.

“I feel we have had improvements in different areas every game,” Bishop said. “Our biggest struggle is offense and getting everyone comfortable playing in different positions.”

While the team still has work to do offensively, Bishop is pleased with other areas of her squad’s play.

“Positives would be the main contributors changing game to game,” she said. “Our defense is getting better with every game we play.”

The Tigers have notched wins over Windsor, Bishop DuBourg, Mehlville and Rockwood Summit so far this season. 

Oakville is getting good output from freshman Savannah Bentrup, who is averaging nearly 16 points per contest.

“Savannah is adjusting well as a freshman,” Bishop said. “She is used to more guard play, and as one of our tallest players, she has had to adjust to the post more where playing with your back to the basket is a whole different world for her. It is nice to have a good sized and strong guard of her ability, level and stature.”

Bentrup has had a double-double in five of the Tigers six games so far this season. She scored a season-high 27 points against Lindbergh on Dec. 6. 

Other bright spots for Oakville have been the play of Alivia Schnur and Kat Steineger. Both are hovering around the 10-point mark per game for the Tigers.

“Alivia and Kat are both good guards with lots of room for improvement,” Bishop said. “As the season progresses and they get stronger against guards, I feel we can slowly improve through the season.”

The Tigers will host Festus on Jan. 7. 

Meanwhile, Lindbergh is off to a 4-4 start to open the season. The Flyers notched wins over Affton, Oakville, and a pair over Fox. 

Kate Ritter is leading the way for the Flyers, averaging 12.5 points per game. She has scored in the double-digits in five of the eight games she has played in this season, including a 21 point effort against Fox on Dec. 16. Teammate Sam Colvin is right behind her, averaging 9.5 points per game this season. Colvin’s season-high was a 16-point performance against Fox and Oakville. 

Over winter break, the Flyers played Liberty on Dec. 27 and Francis Howell North on Dec. 28, losing both contests 61-38 and 63-55, respectively. Lindbergh will next play Eureka on Jan. 7. 

So far Mehlville is 3-3 on the season, notching early season wins over Rosati-Kain and a pair of victories over Affton. 

Jessica Castaldi leads the Panthers in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game. She has scored more than 10 points in five of the six games Mehlville has played this season, including a season-high 18 points in two games. She opened the season with an 18-point effort against Affton, and later scored 18 points again during the Panthers 45-33 loss to Windsor. 

After a short break for the holidays, Mehlville will resume play on Jan. 3 with a contest at Rockwood Summit.