Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

WEST BRANCH – Delaynie Luneckas had to think about the question.

In which areas have you improved the most over the past season.

The West Branch senior forward paused while pondering an answer.

Finally, Luneckas explained the delay in response.

“It’s sort of hard to talk about myself and how I’ve improved or what I’ve done because I’ve really just tried to focus on making the team better,” Luneckas said. “I’ve really just wanted to help us win.”
Even if she didn’t want to admit it herself, Luneckas has certainly improved, solidifying her status this season as one of the top players in Class 2A.

Along the way Luneckas has also helped West Branch win, leading the Bears to a 15-7 marking entering Friday’s Class 2A, Region 6 semifinal against Regina.

The 6-foot-2, Luneckas is averaging a career-high 14 points per game, ranks second in 2A with 12.1 rebounds per game and 4.3 blocked shots per game and is one of only six players in 2A averaging a double-double.

“Her all-around game has really improved,” West Branch coach Jarod Tylee said. “She is improved her defense and passing and I feel like her offensive game has evolved. She doesn’t settle for the same move of the same two moves, she mixes it up.”

There area where Luneckas has made the most improvement doesn’t show up on any stat sheet.

Last season she was the youngster on a 21-win state semifinalist squad with four senior starters.

Suddenly as a senior Luneckas was thrust into a major leadership role as the only senior in an entirely new West Branch lineup.

“It’s certainly been a big change,” Luneckas said. “I had those girls ahead of me and it’s been a little tough stepping into this big leadership position but I had people I was able to talk to or ask questions when things came up.”

Luneckas learned plenty from last year’s seniors and hasn’t stopped taking advantage of those relationship.

She said she has sent text messages to graduated senior Sasha Koenig for advice on leadership situations throughout the season.

“I had people I could go talk to about situations that were coming up,” Luneckas said. “I still take advantage of what a great leader Sasha (Koenig) is, I’ll text her if I have something I don’t know how to deal with.”

Luneckas wasn’t interested in talking about her individual improvement but she doesn’t stop talking on the court.

That’s part of what Tylee says makes her such a valuable asset for a team with two sophomores and a freshman in the starting lineup.

“She has always been our best communicator,” Tylee said. “When she is on the court it is non-stop chatter.”
Luneckas has improved her stat line as well.

A year after averaging 11.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game both of those numbers have climbed despite constantly facing double and even triple teams.

Luneckas is averaging a career-high 3.2 assists per game this season.

“Her passing has really improved,” Tylee said. “She saw a lot of double and triple teams this year and she has figured out where to make the right pass to and where the defense was coming from.”

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