Two Sutton girls basketball players take over for their sisters

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BY RON POWELL / Lincoln Journal Star

Before the season, Sutton faced the daunting task of replacing Class C-2 all-stater Rachael Van Kirk and standout point guard Clancy Nuss off the Fillies’ state tournament team last year.

What better way to do it than with another Van Kirk and Nuss in the stable.

Rachael’s younger sister, Elizabeth Van Kirk, is picking up the scoring slack, while Bailey Nuss, Clancy’s kid sister, operates the fast-paced, high-octane Sutton offense.

Those familiar names have the Fillies in a familiar place at this point of the season — high in the C-2 rankings with an undefeated record. Sutton brings a 13-0 record into tonight’s home game against Milford.

Sutton has been undefeated four of the past five years at this point of the season. The Fillies suffered a loss in December in the 2003-04 season, but still started the season 16-1.

“We’ve had a good run of kids, and Elizabeth and Bailey have been a part of that,” said longtime Fillies coach John Schoneberg, who has a 508-144 career record in 37 years at the school. “Talent wins you ballgames, that’s what it comes down to.’’

Elizabeth Van Kirk and Bailey Nuss, both juniors, represented talent waiting in the wings while their sisters helped make Sutton state contenders in recent years. The 5-foot-8 Elizabeth Van Kirk has raised her scoring average to 15.4 points per game as she’s added driving ability to an offensive arsenal highlighted by deadly three-point shooting.

The 5-4 Bailey Nuss is on track to break Sutton’s assist record with 92 this season, averaging seven per game to go along with seven points and 5.4 steals a contest.

For Elizabeth Van Kirk, an all-state volleyball player, this year’s basketball success has made her think twice about which sport she might pursue in college.

“Volleyball is still my thing, but I’ve grown to love basketball, too,” she said. “I knew it was coming, that I had to fill her (Rachael’s) shoes and pick up my scoring. I shot around in open gym a lot this past summer and went to lots of camps.’’

Bailey Nuss already wanted her sister’s job last season, her first year on varsity after missing her entire freshman campaign because of an ACL injury.

“At our practices, the second team pressures the first team in practice and pushes them to make them better,’’ Bailey Nuss said. “I wanted to beat my sister out because she was older than I was. Now that I have it, no one is taking my spot.”

Several others are also shining this season after more limited roles a year ago. In the post, 5-9 junior Jessica Goldfuss averages nine points and six rebounds per game after scoring 23 points in a 67-62 win at Heartland on Saturday. Sisters Katie Van Kirk (senior) and Megan Van Kirk (junior), both cousins to Elizabeth, were instrumental off the bench in a 63-50 win against Class C-1 No. 3 Kearney Catholic last month with a combined 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Sutton has gotten bonus points from sophomore Courtney Stone, a sophomore transfer from Harvard who averages just more than 10 points per contest.

“We’re a completely different team from last year, and no one thought we’d be this good,’’ Elizabeth Van Kirk said. “We have the talent, we just need to develop a better mind-set than we’ve had the past few years at the state tournament. We’re really set on being state champions this year.”