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The Bonner Springs girls basketball team will open Class 5A substate play at 7 p.m. today at Shawnee Heights in Tecumseh.

The Bravettes enter with a 6-14 record. The Thunderbirds have been mired in a rare rebuilding season and are 7-12.

For Bonner Springs, that could mean opportunity.

“With the postseason, everybody is zero and zero — it’s a race to two (wins),” coach Clay Oakes said. “You win you go on, you lose you go home. We are going to treat it as a new season. All of the other games don’t count. They’re over with.”

Bonner Springs has been plagued by two things this year — turnovers and inconsistent scoring.

The Bravettes will need to limit the former and improve the latter to beat Shawnee Heights.

The Bravettes have on several occasions turned the ball over 20-plus times this season — many times going into double digits in the first quarter. That is an area they have improved on during the final weeks of the regular season, and the better guard play will need to continue in substate.

Sophomore Yessenia Hernandez, a lightning-quick point guard, has been one of the team’s most improved ball-handlers and scorers during the latter part of the season. Hernandez backs up freshman Haley Hoffine. Hoffine has proven that she can score in spurts and has the ability to knock down open shots.

It will be up to the point guards to get the Bravettes set up in their base offense.

Bonner’s base offense consists of getting the ball to a forward on the elbow — who in turn looks inside to the center. If that is not open, they cut guards to create an open perimeter shot or open up a lane to drive to the basket. At times, the offense has flowed with ease. Other times, it has been chaotic.

“The (lack of post production) is really hurting us right now. We need more out of our players (Erin Marx and Erica Wilson), but we understand that they are both sophomores,” Oakes said.

In addition to looking for more consistency out of the post players, the Bravettes are seeking more accurate shooting from the perimeter. Junior guard Erica Smith and senior guard Lynsey Ostman have been streaky this season, but when they’ve been on target, the Bravettes have either won or kept games close. Their accuracy should be a factor against Shawnee Heights.

Ultimately, Oakes wants to see his team play consistent and show toughness. It’s a combination that, when executed properly, has been a recipe for success for the Bravettes.

“If we put four quarters together, we’ll be right there,” he said.

If the Bravettes win tonight, they will face the winner of Lansing (18-2) and Topeka West (2-18) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Highland Park.

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