The Gainesville girls marched to a 28-2 record and a district title before falling in the sectional round to Neelyville in a 68-51 loss.
This year’s team will be in a bit of a rebuilding mode. Michia Jenkins and Destiny Scot were the second and third leading scorers last season and have graduated. Returning all-state senior Annie Noah will miss the season after a knee injury in the offseason. She led the Lady Bulldogs with 16.8 points per game last year.
“She is a true champion and her abilities as player will be missed, but she will continue to be a Lady Bulldog and will be an encouragement to this team in a different role, but one I believe will be helpful,” Gainesville head coach Morris Jenkins said.
Chasity Mansker will also miss the season due to a knee injury, while Shai Meek won’t be playing this year. This means the Lady Bulldogs will be without five of their top seven players from last season.
Two key pieces do return in seniors Aspyn Britt and Shelby Smith.
Britt will run the point again after averaging six points and 3.7 assists per game as a junior.
“Aspyn was a big key to last year’s team…running the point guard sport and being what I feel was one of the best on the ball defenders around,” Jenkins said. “She will be counted on to increase her role in all areas this year and I fully expect her to meet the challenge.”
Smith was a key reserve last season that scored 3.3 points per game.
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“She (Smith) has a very good understanding of the game and is potentially a very dangerous shooter from the perimeter. I expect her to have a good senior season with an increased role,” Jenkins said.
Juniors Cassie Carlo and Natalie Kiger appear ready to step up and play a significant varsity role this season. They played in 18 and 14 varsity games last year, respectively. Both were a part of successful junior varsity team.
Sophomores Brexton Miller, Ashley Poe and Patience Naegele, along with freshmen Elizabeth Kinworthy, Erin McKinzie and Gracyn Blackburn will all be in the mix for varsity minutes this season.
Jenkins knows his team may struggle in the early going, but working toward a strong finish in February will be the goal.
“The key in my mind is in the early part of the season, regardless of the wins and losses, keeping our priorities straight and the end goal in sight, which is to be playing our best basketball by the end of February,” Jenkins said. “We will strive to give great effort, demonstrate high character and improve consistently throughout the season. We hope to be a cohesive group that reflects unselfishness and determination night in and night out. We will focus on playing good team defense and offensively we will strive to value the ball and execute to our strengths.”
Gainesville opens the season on Nov. 30 at home against Koshkonong.
