The 2018-19 Republic-Michigamme Hawks. From left, back row: Leah Westman, Nikki Wertanen, Rachel Kaminen, Kaitlin Ambuehl, Alicia Ball, Rachel Erickson; front row: Alyson Saari, Allie Radcliffe, Olivia Jarvi, Tailyn Raisanen.

REPUBLIC — The last couple of years have been difficult for the Republic-Michigamme girls basketball team, but things might be moving in the right direction as the Hawks enter the 2018-19 season.

Looking back at last year, Hawks head coach April Radcliffe found some positives and said she had some returning players that could be key to the Hawks’ success.

“Last year didn’t go as well as it could have, but we picked up our defensive game a lot,” Radcliffe said.

“We were still pretty flat on offense, but we worked better together and were a more cohesive team.

“This year, I have Tailyn Raisanen coming back as a junior and Allie Radcliffe as a sophomore along with a handful of seniors that could do okay for us. Kaitlin Ambuehl will be a post player and she can do more offensively for us.”

When it comes to Raisanen, Radcliffe said that she’s a good all-around player and is getting better each season.

“She’s very aggressive on offense and very aggressive on defense,” Radcliffe said. “She’s not afraid to shoot and she’s gaining more confidence each year. She’s really honing her skills and taking critiques and showing improvement.”

In regard to Allie Radcliffe, April said she’s also shown improvement since last season.

“She’s pretty strong on offense and she’s stepped up her game on defense,” Radcliffe said.

“She’s gotten better passing-wise, getting the ball down to our big girls.”

Radcliffe is intrigued with how the Copper Mountain Conference will shake out with quite a few new coaches and a lot of teams had some key players graduate.

However, when it comes to her own squad, she feels that this could be a better season than the previous one.

“I think we’ll have better ball movement and team play to get the ball to the open girls,” Radcliffe said.

“We’re really working on cutting hard and taking the ball to the basket.

“Overall, I think we’ll have a more successful season. There’s some talent there.

“We just need to have a good night and get our confidence built up.”

Republic-Michigamme girls

2018-19 schedule

All times Eastern

Dec. 4 — North Dickins., 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 — Mid Peninsula, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — at Ewen-TC, 7:20 p.m.

Dec. 18 — at Jeffers 7:20 p.m.

Jan. 4 — at Mid Penin., 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 — Baraga, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 11 — at Dollar Bay, 7:20 p.m.

Jan. 17 — at Watersmeet. 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 21 — Ewen-TC, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 — Jeffers, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 –Ontonagon, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 — at Stephens.., 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 — at Chassell, 7:20 p.m.

Feb. 7 — at Bessemer, 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 — LL-Hubbell, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 14 — Wakefield-M, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 18 — Dollar Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 — at Baraga, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 26 — at LL-Hubbell, 7:20 p.m.

Feb. 28 — Chassell, 7:30 p.m.