By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Since Mike Mallow was named head coach in 2022-2023, the Mountain Grove Lady Panthers have found better results in the win column.
In Mallow’s first season at Mountain Grove and coaching girls’ basketball, the Lady Panthers went 11-15 and made it past the first round of the district tournament. One year later, they finished 20-7 overall, 6-1 in the South Central Association and advanced to the Class 4 District 11 semifinals. Prior to 2023-2024, the Lady Panthers’ previous winning campaign was 10 years ago – 2014-2015.
“We implemented a new style (last year),” said Mallow, who is 31-20 at Mountain Grove, and enters year 37 as a coach. “We played a lot of kids and we attacked on offense and defense. We made every attempt to press and run with the ball for four quarters whenever possible. Last year, we forced 24 turnovers per game and averaged 13 steals per game. The current plan is to continue with this style.”
And heading into the 2024-2025 slate, the Lady Panthers are poised for another successful season behind seniors Raylee Stenzel and Landry Golden.
Raylee Stenzel, 5-foot-11 senior forward – Averaged 11.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, 2 steals per game; earned Class 4 All-District 11 and All-South Central Association second-team honors; playing sand volleyball for Missouri State University next year. “Ray is a great athlete,” Mallow said. “Her volleyball prowess is well known. She guards the other team’s best player and can take over games. Her outside shooting is much improved. I look for her to have a great year.”
Sadie Schober, 5-7 sophomore guard – Averaged 4.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, .7 apg, 1.1 spg. “Sadie finished the year playing very well. She is going to have a good year.”
Rowen Kelly, 5-5 sophomore forward – Averaged 3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1 apg, .7 spg. “Rowen had some great games last year. I’m looking for her to be more consistent with her skill work.”
Hadley Driskell, 5-7 sophomore guard – Averaged .8 ppg, .5 rpg, .3 apg, .5 spg. “Hadley is a good perimeter shooter and provides needed depth.”
Gabby Miller, 5-4 sophomore, guard – Averaged .6 ppg, .6 rpg, .1 apg, .1 spg. “Gabby is a good athlete and continues to improve.”
Landry Golden, 5-10 senior post – Averaged 7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.1 apg, .7 spg; named all-conference honorable mention. “Provides size, rebounding and a post presence. I look for Landry to take that next step and have a great winter.”
Stella Benson, 5-5 junior guard – Averaged 4.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.2 spg. “Provides an outside shooting threat and great effort. She led us in 3-point shooting percentage last year.”
Mallow said the Lady Panthers’ freshman class is athletic and should provide needed depth.
“We played in the summer league and showed improvement for the summer,” Mallow said. “As for this fall, most of our girls are volleyball players. They have had a great season… our other girls work out with our assistant twice a week” (while Mallow coached girls’ golf).
In the meantime, Mountain Grove will work to overcome the challenge of overall depth and the loss of a talented senior class that included Campbell Welch, Kaily Wake and Taylor Hicks.
Campbell Welch – Averaged 15.1 points per game; earned Class 4 All-District 11 and All-SCA first-team honors; was voted Offensive MVP by her teammates. “Campbell led us in scoring,” Mallow said. “She played our point guard and was an excellent perimeter defender.”
Kaily Wake – Led team with 2.7 assists per game, was second with 2.5 steals per game and deflections; was an all-district and all-conference second-team selection and team Defensive MVP. “Kaily provided an outside scoring threat. She was our secondary ball handler. She is an athletic, aggressive defender.”
Taylor Hicks – “Taylor did a great job for us. She led the team in charges drawn. She led us in free-throw percentage (81.3) and sealed several games at the line in the last couple years.”
Mountain Grove opens the regular season at Gainesville (“a tough place to play”) on Nov. 26 and will compete in the 11th Annual Fordland Invitational on Dec. 2-7, before hosting Hartville on Dec. 9.
“They play with great effort,” Mallow said of what he likes about his team. “They are used to the system and execute it well. We are aggressive and athletic. Defensively, we should be able to create turnovers and play an up-tempo style.”
