By John Miller (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The arrow is pointing up for the Glendale Lady Falcons as they enter the 2018-19 season. After finishing last year with a 7-18 record, including a 2-7 mark in Ozark Conference play, the team returns three starters and four lettermen and hopes to make a splash this coming year.
“I’m excited to play one last time this season with Glendale,” noted senior Hannah Pinkston. “We are a smaller team, but I think we will be able to surprise some people. We hope to build a foundation for our program, and I hope this season displays our hard work.”
Gone from last year’s team is one key player – forward Gabby Mathews, who is now playing collegiately for Evangel. Mathews was a 2nd Team All-District and All-Conference pick last year, serving as the heartbeat of the Lady Falcons.
“Gabby was a veteran four-year letter winner who provided valuable leadership and was an established post presence for our team,” second-year coach Trish Marsh said.
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With Mathews gone, Glendale will look to its returners for the void in leadership. Seniors Pinkston and Abbey Hirsch will be counted on to help fill that gap. Pinkston, a 5-foot-10 forward, has committed to Truman State University and was named 2nd Team All-District and All-Conference last year. She averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game and hope to improve on those numbers to make up for the production left with Mathews’ loss. Hirsch played in 22 games last year and will be asked to step into a larger role during her senior year.
Other returners for the Lady Falcons include junior Madison Marsh, the daughter of the head coach who averaged 7 points and 2 rebounds last year, as well as junior Kyndall Phillips, junior Natalie LaCroix, junior Abbi Rankin, and sophomore Macie Stephens. Stephens averaged 6 points and 2 rebounds per game last season for Glendale.
Glendale also welcomes in three newcomers in senior Lucy Williamson, sophomore Emily Phillips, and junior Aujuane Hill. At 5-foot-8, Williamson should help provide Lady Falcons with depth inside, especially with the departure of Mathews.
“Lucy will provide valuable senior leadership and will fill a void in the post in the absence of Gabby,” Marsh noted.
Phillips was the starting point guard on the JV team last year and should move into a larger role as a member of varsity. Hill is a transfer student from Oklahoma and at 5-foot-11, should give Glendale some size on the interior.
“Emily had a solid freshman campaign,” Marsh said. “We’re looking for her to continue to expand her game at the varsity level.”
Last year, Glendale struggled offensively, averaging 46 points per game and shooting just 37 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range. Defensively, they held opponents to 51 points, 39 percent from the field, and 29 percent from 3-point range. They hope to improve on those numbers heading into the upcoming season.
“We have a good nucleus of returners with a good mixture of new faces,” Marsh said. “We will play a fundamentally sound type of basketball and will focus on good offensive execution and solid defensive principles.”
