Nipe has high hopes for Centennial

Megan Nipe figured to be the star player leading Centennial to the basketball state tournament.

While fulfilling the former, Nipe, an All-Metro first team selection last season, has one chance left to accomplish the latter.

In 2006, she was a freshman who contributed size, shooting touch and tenacity to a state tournament bound Cougars team. Centennial has unwillingly become a hard-luck figure since, losing a combined four games the past two seasons yet missing out on state twice. Last season's 62-56 loss to Osseo was especially painful. Centennial entered the game undefeated and ranked No. 1.

Key contributors Kiara Allums, Emily Becken and Kayla Blom are gone, but optimism remains.

"We have the potential to be great again," Nipe said.

The Cougars served notice this fall by beating teams from Hopkins, Lakeville North and Minneapolis South.

Nipe, who will play at George Washington next fall, recently sprained a knee ligament but hopes to be cleared by doctors in time for the season-opening Hamline Invitational tournament Nov. 28. She spoke with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about learning from the Osseo loss, adding new wrinkles to her game and breaking in new teammates.

Q Do you talk about the Osseo loss because it's therapeutic or do you avoid it and try to forget it?

A I definitely wouldn't say we talk about it because it's therapeutic. A couple teammates might talk about it but it's not talked about as a team because it brings back bad memories. So we pretty much don't talk about it. But we all know it's there and it gives us a drive for this season.

Q How long did it take before you picked up a basketball again?

A Well, physically I had to pick up a basketball about a week later when AAU started. But that game was in my mind halfway through the summer.

Q What do replay in your head?

A I pretty much think about how we shot 13 percent from the floor in the first half. I can picture all those missed shots. I don't even remember who was taking them, just the fact that so many did not go in. We couldn't pay the bucket to let one go in.

Q Talk about your basketball experiences since the varsity season.

A In the summer, my AAU coach had me playing the 2 and the 3 positions -- mainly the 2 [guard] position so I could work on my ballhandling and outside shooting. That made me real comfortable with the three-pointer.

Q What do you like about this year's varsity team at Centennial?

A The thing that strikes me the most is probably our potential. Our game last year was more of an outside game. This year we'll be dominant on the inside. Our guards are new but their potential is tremendous. Kahla Becken is a sophomore and then there's Hannah Steele, who is a senior, and Holly Hofland, who is a junior. They don't have the same varsity experience our guards did last year, but they have so much potential. We learned to play together during fall ball and our chemistry is really coming along nicely.

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574