By Derek Shore
Purdy’s 2015-16 campaign continued a run of success, as the Black and Gold Lady Eagles won their third straight Ozark 7 regular season title and sixth league title overall dating back to 2010.
For the second straight season, Purdy came up a few points shy of a district title, losing 49-46 to Miller in the Class 2 District 12 final. Head coach Eli Ernst led the Eagles to their second consecutive 20-win season, posting a 21-6 overall record (6-0 record against conference opponents) in the process.
Once again, Purdy figures to be strong as four starters return to the floor.
“Our goals remain the same,” the reigning Ozark 7 Conference Coach of the Year said. “Improve on a nightly basis, live right, and the rest will take care of itself. The difference being we won’t be labeled as a young team. That experience will be a no doubt positive for us going forward.”
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Purdy returns a majority of its roster. Yet, will have to cope with the loss of all-important forward in Desirie Ennes to graduation. Ennes was a four-year starter for the Eagles and was named Ozark 7 Player of the Year in 2016.
“Desirie was our leader and currently still leads our team,” Ernst said of his lone starter lost. “Desi has moved on to play at Evangel this season, but constantly calls and texts her former teammates. She is a tremendous young lady that is destined to do great things
“We are excited to watch her develop into a quality college basketball player.”
Headlining this year’s Lady Eagles will be their leading scorer from a season ago, the versatile Layne Skiles. A 5-foot-10 junior, she averaged 15.4 points per game while grabbing 6.5 boards with a little over four assists. Her role will only grow as an upperclassmen.
“Layne has tremendous upside,” Ernst said of Skiles. “We were able to flex her to play all five positions and this season will be challenged to increase her rebounding from the previous years in the absence of our graduate.”
Purdy will also return two key starters – Sami House and Rion Boyd. House, a 5-foot-7, senior, averaged 11.3 as a junior with 4.3 rebounds. Boyd, a 5-foot-7, senior, scored 10.5 points per game.
“We are expecting big things from Sami this season,” Ernst said of House. “Sami must grow into a player that other teams must take notice of and focus upon.
“Rion is an arrow pointing up kind of kid. She has a good shot from the outside and will continue to evolve her game on the defensive end of the floor to take it to the next level.”
In addition to those seniors and junior, the Eagles will welcome back three other returning juniors – Zoe Brown (5-foot-4), Cailyn Spears (5-foot-6), and Hallie Henderson (5-foot-2).
Brown is described as a “true team player that is more than willing to accept whatever role that helps the team.” Ernst called Spears a “hard-working up-in-comer,” who has positioned herself to compete for a starting role. Henderson, a three-sport athlete, has seen and adjusted to a lot of adversity. She won championships in all three sports, and Ernst said, “this experience will be beneficial to the success of our season.”
Two of the six Purdy newcomers are juniors that include Rylee Moller (5-foot-7) and Betty Berry (5-foot-6). Ernst said Moller is one of the strongest kids on the team and has a giant heart and Berry is a true team player, who has improved as well. The remaining four newcomers include sophomores Emma Harkey (5-foot-7), twins Madison Renkoski (5-foot-1) and McKenzie Renkoski (5-foot-1), and Isbell Ibarra (5-foot-2), who are expected to log varsity time.
“It is time to harness the lessons we have learned and use it to propel us to be as good as God has gifted us to be,” Ernst said on the outlook of his team. “I am excited to see how this season will unfold.”
Purdy opens the season against Forsyth on Nov. 22.
