By Chris Parker
Cabool girls basketball is looking to take a big step forward this season with five starters and eight letter winners returning from last season’s three-win team.
Lily Thiele (senior), Paige Moore (junior), Chloe Overby (junior), Jordanna Atkins (junior), Natalie Smith (sophomore) and Lucy Thiele (sophomore) are all returning.
Overby led the group in scoring with 12 points per game as a sophomore. She also had 5 rebounds per game. Atkins was a rebounding machine averaging 12 per game as a sophomore with 7 points per game. Moore had 6 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals per game last season. Lily Thiele contributed 3 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists per game as a junior.
None of the returning players are taller than 5-foot-7, so the Bulldogs will look to make up for a lack of size with great positioning.
“We will be on the small side, so we will really have to focus on being in the right spot at the right time on both ends of the court,” Cabool head coach Rance Beller said. “These kids have improved each year, and I do not expect that to change this year.”
Cabool opens the regular season on Nov. 21 at home against Plato.
“We are a group that has struggled with numbers and consistency the last couple of years,” Beller said. “I hope the trials these kids have been through as underclassmen being forced into varsity action can pay off this year. We had a really good summer and played some really competitive games. I think when we have everyone together we have a chance to surprise some people this year.”
