By Chris Parker
Parkview girls basketball is ready for a bounce-back season after a winless 2024-25 campaign.
“I am always excited for upcoming seasons and always looking forward to it,” Parkview head coach Brian Loudis said. “My staff and I know what last year looked like, and we have turned the page and met this year to make changes that will not only help us as staff, but we feel will make this a more successful season for our players. I am very optimistic that we have a good, competitive team that has proved to me even last year we have what it takes to win. We just must stay together as a team and finish them out and play for one another.”
This year also brings more familiarity for Parkview entering the second season with Loudis as head coach.
“The biggest strength for us as a team this year is that last year was my first year as head coach, and we all were just learning each other and the players on what type of system we wanted to implement,” Loudis said. “I feel this year with our senior leadership and more familiarity with one another, that we are going to be able to do good things this year and have more success than last year.”
Brooklyn Haines (senior guard), Alina Sliva (senior guard), Nyla Graves (senior forward), Rachel Leville (junior guard), Keshyla Harris (junior forward), Shiloh Giles (junior forward), Kyra Cannon (junior guard) and Savannah Deason (junior forward) are the returning players this season.
Loudis on Haines: “(She brings) senior leadership on and off the floor. Always there for her teammates and has a great grasp on what’s happening on the floor and smart with the basketball.”
Loudis on Silva: “Not only her senior leadership as well, but she is heads up and ready to shoot the ball. She brings sparks in spurts with offense, but more of the in-your-face defense.”
Loudis on Graves: “When we need a smart player in crunch time, we can always count on Nyla. When she decides she wants to shoot it goes in, but she can step up and put a five-second count on anyone.”
Loudis on Leville: “Rachel is our do it all player and she steps it up every game. She’s our ball handler and shooter. When she goes, so does the team.”
Loudis on Harris: “When we need a turnover, we call into Keke. She’s good for a few baskets, but she thrives on making the offense uncomfortable and getting turnovers for us and capitalizing on those with either a layup or getting the ball to a teammate to go get the score for us.”
Loudis on Giles: “Shiloh is our bulldog and not afraid to draw contact and get to the line. She is there for rebounds and loose balls, while not afraid to drive to the basket to get the contested layup or even the and-1.”
Loudis on Cannon: “Kyra comes off the bench and gives us a spark on the offensive side. She has no fear driving to the hole or even stopping and popping for a jump shot.”
Loudis on Deason: “Savannah is the player each coach wants on the team. The player that does exactly what you ask of her and executes every time.”
Loudis is looking for this group to be better in late game situations.
“We were in games last year that as a young team, we couldn’t finish down the stretch to get the win,” Loudis said. “This year, I feel we have more confidence in each other and will have the ability to close out those close games and get wins in our pocket.”
Delaney Walker, Courtney Skelton and Sabrina Mills are three freshmen who will get good junior varsity minutes and look for potential varsity time.
Parkview travels to Sparta on Nov. 18 for a jamboree with the host Trojans and Marionville before opening the regular season on Dec. 2 at New Covenant.
“We had a winless season last year, but we were in so many games last year that we couldn’t get close out,” Loudis said. “I feel this year we can make those close ones count and get in the win column. A successful season for us is not only wins but just seeing the growth in our team in the situations that we will be in for each game.”
