By Chris Parker
Lockwood girls basketball won the program’s first district title since 2019 last season going 18-10 overall. The Tigers came up one win short of the final four falling to eventual state champion Chadwick in the state quarterfinal round.
This season, Lockwood is aiming for another deep postseason run with four players who played in all 28 games last season returning.
“We will have to become more confident in the high-pressure situations against good teams,” Lockwood head coach Clay Lasater said. “We have to eliminate turnovers and empty possessions. We also have to do a better job rebounding. Our size really hurts us when it comes to rebounding, so we have to find a way to even out the rebounding discrepancy.”
Lockwood will still be young this season relying heavily on the sophomore class.
“We will still be really young, but we will have four sophomores who gained very valuable varsity experience in the run we made to the quarterfinals last year,” Coach Lasater said. “I think our quickness will be a strength as well as the experience they gained as freshman.”
Asa Lasater is the top returning player. She was named First-Team All-Southwest Conference as a freshman after she averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4 steals per game.
“I think Asa’s competitiveness and her work ethic (helped her have success),” Coach Lasater said. “She works really hard, and she loves to compete. She also battled significant shin splints last winter and never made excuses but just worked through it.”
She is looking for an even bigger sophomore season after a strong summer of improvement.
“I believe she has improved her ball handling and her on-ball defense,” Coach Lasater said. “She had a good summer playing with and against some great competition that really pushed her all spring and summer.”
Fellow sophomores Hadley Abbiatti, Peyton Lasater and Molly Hedeman also return.
Abbiatti is a guard who averaged 9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game last season.
“Hadley had a great freshman season and will look to be a more consistent scorer for us this year,” Coach Lasater said. “Hadley really stepped up down the stretch last season and was shooting the ball really well. Her shooting helped propel us to a district championship. I look forward to seeing her growth as a sophomore.”
Peyton Lasater was just behind Abbiatti averaging 9.1 points per game to go with 2.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals.
“(Peyton) really played well late in the season and picked up her offensive aggressiveness that led her to earning all-district honors and leading us to a district championship,” Coach Lasater said. “
Hedeman will have an expanded role this season after she contributed 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game as a freshman.
“Molly Hedeman came off the bench as our sixth-man last year as a freshman but will look to step into a starting position and use her quickness to create turnovers and get to the basket,” Coach Lasater said.
Leah Ogden and Whitney Sangster saw limited varsity action as freshmen.
Ogden played in nine varsity games last season.
“Leah is a great kid who is extremely coachable,” Coach Lasater said. “I look for Leah to compete for time in the post this winter.”
Sangster saw time in 12 varsity games in her freshman season.
“I’m looking for Whitney to step into a bigger role this winter and use her toughness and strength to help us become a better rebounding team,” Coach Lasater said.
Seniors Lyla Pritchard and Natalie Wilson will be newcomers to the varsity equation.
“Lyla is back after not playing basketball the last couple of years will add depth to our young team,” Coach Lasater said. “Natalie back from not playing the last couple of years has the potential to be a good defender for our team.”
Freshman Lauren Caldwell is looking to make an immediate varsity impact.
“Lauren had a good summer and will look to add some much-needed height to our lineup this winter,” Coach Lasater said. “Lauren will compete for a starting spot as a freshman.”
Laki Brollier (freshman guard), Madison Kirkpatrick (sophomore guard) and Aniah Contreras (freshman guard) will add depth and compete for minutes.
Lockwood opens the season Dec. 1-6 at the Gem City Classic in Diamond.
“We are still young and growing but I’m excited about the experience they bring back after winning late in the season last winter,” Lasater said. “I just want to see our kids have fun playing each day and growing together as a team. I hope we can find some good places to eat together on our away games.”
