By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Why not us?
Short. Simple. To the point.
Last year, Rogersville came up just a single bucket away from upsetting Carl Junction. The Lady Wildcats then had to watch as CJ advanced all the way to the Class 4 state championship game.
LogRog now returns four starters and seven letterwinners from that team, eager to right the wrong that they feel happened in Sectionals.
“That loss proved that we were as capable and deserving as anyone to get to the Final Four,” said Rogersville coach Denny McHenry. “Our slogan since the loss to CJ has been, ‘Why Not Us.’ We had a great summer, but are dealing with some injuries and have had one important junior role player from last year decide not to come back out. Although most all of our young ladies are involved in a fall sport they are eager to get basketball rolling once again.”
This will be McHenry’s 30th season on the sideline, the last five of which have been at Rogersville. And, this is arguably the most talented group he’s had, led by the standout senior duo of former COC Small Player of the Year Jordyn Gault and 5-foot-10 post Maci McHenry.
Gault led the team in scoring (13.9 PPG) and steals (1.7 SPG). McHenry was the team’s most effective paint presence, putting up just under 10 PPG and a team-high 5.7 RPG.
“In Jordyn we have a young lady that can fill it up any night, even though she’s being blanketed by the best defender on the other team,” said McHenry. “She is working to improve her ball handling and in between game off the bounce. Maci is a workhorse, blue collar through and through. The epitome of my type of player, the more difficult the challenge, the better she thrives on it.”
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LR will have plenty of talent and experience around them as well.
Senior Taylor Overstreet (5’6) averaged 7.6 PPG last season, shooting nearly 40% from deep, earning All-COC Small honors. She’ll give the Lady Cats another perimeter scorer.
Classmates Sydney Dunavant (4.3 PPG) and Gracie Gorman also bring back experience. Juniors Sophia Nixon and Shelby Ince (5.2 PPG, 4 RPG; 2nd most on team) both played major minutes as well.
“They’ve all been through an entire season, either as starters or key role players of a tough schedule and have won a conference and district title,” said McHenry.”
Incoming juniors Shayley Dunavant and Jesse Bond are two players that McHenry believes can also make an impact this season. The younger Dunavant saw action in seven games as a sophomore. There are a few underclassmen that could also provide depth this season.
As always, McHenry and Rogersville isn’t ducking anyone in the nonconference.
Kickapoo, Willard, West Plains and Strafford are all on the schedule before Christmas. That doesn’t include the Fair Grove Tournament. Following the Pink & White Lady Classic, the Lady Cats will see powers like Walnut Grove, Bolivar, Webb City and Republic.
And that doesn’t include the new Big 8, which will provide opponents like Mount Vernon and Marshfield.
LR has seen unparalleled success over the last five seasons, breaking both its conference and district drought. McHenry is hopeful the new conference alignment will position his group to make an even deeper run in March.
“We have won three conference championships in a row, and last year broke the streak of winning a district title after placing second the two previous years,” said McHenry. “Last year was the first district title since 2008-2009.
“We have played some of the Big 8 teams in the past, especially Aurora and Mt. Vernon which are in our side of the conference now. We expect to see good players, good athletes and good coaches just like we see on our schedule every night.”
Rogersville will open the 2018-19 season on Nov. 19, at home, against defending Class 5 runner-up Kickapoo.
