The girls varsity team is off to a tremendous start, entering the holiday season undefeated and having notched victories over several excellent opponents.

The Cotter girl’s basketball team returned many key contributors from a team that made it to the section final last seaoson.  Key returning players include seniors Jordan Rubie, Kelli Hadaway and Mary Morgan, junior Ellie Macal, and sophomores Megan Morgan, Olivia Gardner and Sera Speltz.

Nobody on the team expected to be doing as well at the beginning of the season as they have. Especially sisters, and team leaders, Mary and Megan Morgan. 

“We are working together really well, and I think everyone has the mindset of success for the team. I could not be more proud of the team so far,”  Mary Morgan said.

Cotter opened the season with a wins against Hill Murray and Visitation at the Thanksgiving Tipoff tournament at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

The win over Visitation was the 600th of coach Pat Bowlin’s career as varsity girls basketball coach.  Coach Bowlin was honored in a ceremony after the game and the team brought out t-shirts to commemorate the milestone.

The girls then returned home to defeat conference rival Caledonia, the team that kept Cotter from getting to State last year. Other key wins early in the season have come over section 1A rivals Stewartville and Lake City. With each win the team continues to grow in their skills and their teamwork. 

The mindset for the season going forward is to face each opponent separately and to not overlook teams.

“Our defense has to continue to be our strength, because we know that our offense will follow suit,” Megan Morgan said.