By Chris Parker
Longtime West Plains girls basketball head coach Scott Womack takes over as head coach of the Dora Lady Falcons this season.
“After 33 years at West Plains and a year off, I am excited for this new venture and feel that the potential is there to build this program to where we can compete every year for conference and district championships and beyond,” Womack said.
Five players who saw varsity action on last season’s 11-win team return.
Kinley Luna is a junior who averaged 23.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game on her way to all-conference and all-district honors as a sophomore. She is already over 1,000 points for her career.
Montgomery Mitchell is a sophomore forward who earned all-conference honors as a freshmen averaging 9.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.
Ellie Ullom returns for her junior season. She is a key piece of the defense who averaged 2 points and 5 rebounds per game as a sophomore.
Isabella Martin is an athletic guard who can shoot the three or get to the basket according to Womack. She averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds per game last season.
“The experience we return with four starters will be a strength,” Womack said. “I think as the year goes on, we will improve on the defensive end of the floor.”
Kynslee Vandiver is a junior forward who had a bench role as a sophomore but will be asked to be a starter this season.
Freshman guard Ashlynn Carter will push for immediate varsity minutes.
There will be a learning curve in the early going as Womack installs his system.
“Picking up a new offensive and defensive philosophy will take a little time,” Womack said. “I see the potential to be successful on both ends of the floor. We don’t have a lot of depth, so it will be important for our freshmen to grow up real quick.”
Dora opens the season on Nov. 21 at home against Van Buren.
“We need to buy in and build from the defensive end. As you know from my past teams, we are going to win on the defensive end of the floor. If we do that we will improve as the season goes and be very competitive,” Womack said. “These girls have had a great attitude and really improved during the summer. If they keep that attitude and keep working hard they have potential to have a successful season.”
