By Chris Parker
Lamar girls basketball has won six games in back-to-back seasons. The Lady Tigers will look to change that this year.
“We need to have a fire under our belly and not settle,” Lamar head coach Mandy Moyer said. “We have the opportunity to have a great season and some late bloomers who have the potential to have a breakout season. It will be fun to watch.”
Lamar graduated two all-conference selections from last year’s team leaving junior Phajjia Gordan as the lone returning all-conference player. She was named honorable mention all-conference after she scored 8.6 points per game and pulled down 6.8 rebounds per game.
“She was a late bloomer last season and had a good finish. Strong presence in the paint and has great speed for her size,” Moyer said. “The team will look for her to be consistent on the floor every night. If teams let her loose she can do damage in the paint.”
Senior Josey Adams along with juniors Marcy Miller, Ashlyn Stettler and Kenndey Evans all return for Lamar.
Adams averaged 8.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game last winter.
“(Adams a) great outside shooter and deceptive on the court,” Moyer said. “She loves the game and spends a lot of time with a ball in her hands. We look for her to have a positive impact on the culture and lead this team and program on a new path.”
Miller put up 5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore.
“(Miller is a) great rebounder and shot blocker with one of the best verticals on the team,” Moyer said. “Gordan and Miller will be a fun duo to watch in post play as they play off each other.”
Stettler returns after averaging 4.5 points and 2 assists per game last year.
“(Stettler) has great range and is consistent on the court. She will help Adams in the back court with point guard duties,” Moyer said.
Evans averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game last year.
“Hustle and grit is Evans’ specialty,” Moyer said. “Most improved kid over the summer and will fill that five spot position. Look for her to have a breakout season.”
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Sophomores Ella Harris and Jaycee Doss will be new to the team.
Moyer on Harris: “Great floor IQ and passer. Best instinct on the floor knowing where the open player is and great at reading the defense. She can play inside but also make shots outside the paint.”
Moyer on Doss: “Defense is her specialty on the court. Has great speed and handles the ball well. Will help Adams and Stettler with point guard duties.”
Classmates Chelsey O’Sullivan, Alyssa Powell and Dayla Rutledge make the sophomore class a strength for Lamar.
“(They are a) great group of coachable kids who will need to stay ready to give good minutes when they come off the bench,” Moyer said. “This group will be looked at as the ‘behind the scenes crew’ who will be critical to the overall success of the team this season.”
Lamar will find strength in its post play this year and will need a balanced offensive attack to be successful.
“Miller and Gordan’s size and speed will be a strength in the paint for us. If they bring strength and grit to the floor every night, teams we play will have a hard time matching up to them,” Moyer said. “We are the type of team that doesn’t have one player who scores 20 points every night. Instead, we have several girls who can score and be a contributor. We need to understand this and buy into it and support each other.”
Lamar will host Stockton, Butler and El Dorado Springs for a jamboree on Nov. 16. The Tigers open the regular season on Nov. 19 at Neosho.
