2021-22 Winter Preview: Marshfield Girls Basketball

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By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Heading into her fourth season, Marshfield head coach Katie Pritchard continues to put her stamp on the program.

Under Pritchard, the Lady Jays have steadily increased their win totals from the previous year.

Last season, Marshfield compiled a 20-6 record, falling to West Plains in the district championship.

“The team believed from day one they could compete with the teams on our schedule,” Pritchard said. “We hit challenges, but the team showed unity and resiliency through all of them.”

If the Lady Jays are to continue building on recent success, Pritchard will need to first find replacements for a pair of talented graduates in Maile Peck (7.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Brooklyn Crawford (9.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg).

Peck will continue her basketball career at Wesminster College this season, while Crawford will play volleyball at College of the Ozarks.

“Our seniors last year were great leaders,” Pritchard said. “Their competitiveness and willingness to do whatever the team needed set the tone for our team and our success.”

A trio of sophomores will step into leadership roles for the Lady Jays in Lauren Luebbert, Abby McBride and Mollie Thomas.

Luebbert, a 5-foot-11 wing, averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 rebounds last season.

“Lauren is a competitor with a high basketball IQ,” Pritchard said. “Last season she was put in several high pressure situations and always stepped up in those moments. She is an inside-out threat on offense and able to guard any position on the other end.”

McBride, a 5-foot-8 guard, averaged 9.1 points and 2.3 rebounds in 2020-21, leading the Lady Jays in 3-point percentage (33 percent) and 3-point makes (23).

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“Abby is known for her 3-point shooting ability, but she impacts the game in so many other ways,” Pritchard said. “She’s a great on-ball defender and takes pride in that.”

The 5-foot-11 Thomas was first off the bench for Marshfield last season, averaging 2.9 points and 3.1 rebounds.

“We have confidence in Mollie stepping into a bigger role this season,” Pritchard said. “Her length and athleticism give her the ability to make a difference on both ends of the floor.”

With spots to fill on the roster, Marshfield will look to a trio of newcomers to step in and make an impact on the varsity roster.

5-foot-11 junior Riley Manary, 5-foot-5 sophomore Cassie Fishel and 5-foot-7 senior Alaura Padgett will all compete for varsity playing time.

“I am excited about this season and the opportunities it presents for our program,” Pritchard said. “Our players knew they would have to step up into new roles this season, so they put in work in the offseason that will allow them to do that with confidence. There’s a lot of young talent around our returners who will have the opportunity to make an impact.”

Whie Marshfield will be young, Pritchard believes the experience gained during last season’s run will pay big dividends as her team works to develop chemistry over the course of the schedule.

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“Lauren and Abby both started last year, and Mollie was our 6th man,” Pritchard said. “With that varsity experience, we will look to them to be leaders on the court. Our lone senior, Alaura, also brings leadership to our team through her belief in her teammates and tough-nosed play.”

Pritchard will look to the team’s defensive effort to help generate offense and push that cohesive development this season.

“We are always looking to improve on the defensive end of the floor,” Pritchard said. “There are bound to be off days on offense, but we can always count on our effort and intensity on the defensive end to keep us in games. Offensively, I believe we have several players who can score in many ways. We will work the ball and have a balanced attack.”

Following a Nov. 16 jamboree at home with Fair Grove and Waynesville, Marshfield opens its season Nov. 22 at Clever.

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