By Chris Parker
Verona girls basketball has a new, but experienced, head coach in Vicky Spivy this season.
She is excited to be back on the sidelines after a five-year break.
“I have been retired for five years after coaching for 26 years, so me being back on the floor with this group has me excited,” Spivy said. “They are hard workers and want to learn.”
Senior point guard Jaicee Carrasquillo, a Mission University commit, returns after averaging 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists last season. She was named a unanimous First-Team All-Conference player in the Ozark 7.
“She will be our floor leader,” Spivy said. “Her main job will be to handle the ball, be an outside threat scorer and get everyone involved on the floor.”
Taylor Baker will key the defense in her senior season. She averaged 6.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game on her way to honorable mention all-conference honors as a junior.
“She will be our defensive leader, a scorer and ball handler,” Spivy said.
Senior Whitlee Cornelison was second on the team in scoring a 13.5 points per game and led the team in rebounding with 7.3 per game. She was named second-team all-conference last season.
“She will be an all-around player, gives us inside/outside threat, and will be our vocal leader,” Spivy said.
Maggie Perez is a fourth returning senior who scored 2.2 points per game with 5 rebounds per game last season.
“She will give us an inside strength,” Spivy said.
Amy Ortega (senior post), Sadie Martinez (freshman guard) and Austin Meyers (freshman post) are newcomers to watch.
“Our biggest strength this year is we will be senior oriented,” Spivy said. “We need to learn and expect to win. ‘It’s not over when you lose, it’s over when you quit’.”
Verona opens the season Nov. 22-26 with its home tournament.
“For us to have a successful year, I would like to see us compete for 32 minutes every night,” Spivy said.
