By Chris Parker
Niangua girls basketball returns to the varsity court for the first time in two years this season.
“Niangua has not had a girls basketball program for two years, due to lack of numbers,” Niangua head coach Eric Derossett said. “Our primary goal, first and foremost, is to build a program. Much time has been spent by the coaching staff on building relationships with potential players. We are still concerned about our numbers but feel we have several pieces in place to have a team and beyond that, also build for the future in the process.”
The players are excited to take the court for the first time in two years.
“It is an exciting time because our players fully appreciate the chance to play and compete,” Derossett said. “We are not caught up in the mundane concept ‘having to get ready for the season’. Instead, we ‘get to get ready for the season’. It is a different mindset than any other team that I have ever coached. There will absolutely be challenges associated with this season, with lots of questions to be answered – can we maintain a team, can we compete, can grow our team in the moment so that the future is a possibility – and so on.”
Seniors Katie Dixon and Ashleigh Vestal played as freshmen.
“We expect them to contribute immediately,” Derossett said. “Both of them are skilled and have had success in other sports. They both bring some height and give some inside potential right away. Both understand how important they can be to stabilizing our program for the long term. This is something they aren’t taking lightly and are, in fact, embracing the opportunity to facilitate change. We look for both of them to have big seasons.”
Makayla Condray is a senior guard.
“She was on the team last year in the first few weeks before the team folded,” Derossett said. “She, too, will provide an ability to contribute from the start. She is quick and has a skill set that will help us from the very first day. We are excited about Makayla and her evolving role on our team.”
Gracie Littrell (sophomore), Jaden Dalton (freshman), and Kaylee Scheetz (freshman) are underclassmen who could make impacts this season.
Derossett on Littrell: “Gracie Littrell is a sophomore guard, and we feel she could be a building block of our program over the next three seasons. She is very skilled offensively and is very savvy. She has a winning mentality and is respected by her teammates. She is the kind of player that can give a program an identity and we are confident that she will do just that.”
Derossett on Dalton: “Jaden Dalton is a freshman guard. Jaden plays with a determined toughness. She will be asked to do the bulk of the point guard duties for us. She is able to drive and finish but also shoots the three really well. She is an absolute competitor, and we are excited about the spirit that she brings in that regard.”
Derossett on Scheetz: “Kaylee Scheetz is a freshman guard. Kaylee is a rugged guard with the ability to attack the basket and is also able to score on the perimeter. We see her as being a matchup problem for other teams with her strength. She will get better every single night out and will be a force on our team, sooner rather than later.”
Junior Bailey Clift and senior Kaley White are a pair of post players who also will look to contribute.
Niangua opens the season Nov. 20-22 at the Chadwick Flyer Invitational.
“As we look at the 25-26 season, we have some goals that other teams often take for granted,” Derossett said. “Success in 25-26 would start with a team for a full season. We are hopefully headed in that direction. Our junior high team had success this year, and we had good numbers, so we feel good about the future.”
