2021-22 Winter Preview: Pierce City Girls Basketball

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By Chris Parker

Pierce City girls basketball must replace a pair of all-conference players from last season’s team that posted a 9-16 record overall, but the cupboard is far from bare. Five players that saw action in at least 20 games return with another player who saw action in just two games before injury ended her season returning.

“We are a much different team this year than we have been in the past,” Pierce City head coach Chris Randolph said. “We graduated two true back to the basket post players and will be more guard-centric this season. We hope that this will help us have a truly balanced attack inside out.”

Those six players are: Sydnee Prater (senior), Chelsey Puckett (senior), Olivia Stanphill (junior), Keishia Delgado (junior), Madi Tindell (junior) and Rylie O’Hara (sophomore). Prater saw action in just two games before injury but averaged 11 ppg over those two appearances. Stanphill was the top scorer in that group with 6 ppg followed closely by Delgado at 5.2 ppg.

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Randolph on Prater: “We lost Sydnee to an injury early in the season last year and it really affected us as a team. Sydnee is a great leader on and off the court and we are very excited to be getting her back.”
Randolph on Puckett: “Chelsey is a high IQ player that really understands where to be on the court. She also has the ability to stretch the floor with her shooting ability.”
Randolph on Stanphill: “Olivia stepped up and did a lot of different things for our team last year. She has good court vision leading our team in assists last season.”
Randolph on Delgado: “Keishia is a great defender and was tasked with guarding our opponent’s best guard on a nightly basis last year. We are looking forward to her expanding her role offensively this year.”
Randolph on Tindell: “Madi will be expected to step into an expanded role as a junior after being a backup post player the last couple of years. She is a high motor player in games and brings a lot of energy to the floor.”
Randolph on O’Hara: “Rylie had to step into a bigger role as a freshman when we lost Sydnee to injury. She did a great job and that experience that she gained should go a long way to helping her in her role this season.”

Sophomores Lydia Hopper, Lexie Eaton and Brenna Poage along with freshman Ayla Renkoski and Macie Crowther will be newcomers to watch.

“Defensively I believe we have the potential to be a very strong team this year with a focus on winning the turnover battle on a nightly basis,” Randolph said.

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Pierce City travels to Crane on Nov. 16 for a jamboree with East Newton, Forsyth and Crane. The Eagles open the regular season on Nov. 22 at home against Cassville.

“I expect this group to be a high energy team that can make teams play at our pace,” Randolph said. “For the first time in a few years, we have a lot of experience at most positions and I expect that experience and maturity to show on the court.”

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