By Chris Parker
Manfield girls basketball finished 15-12 last season and returns four varsity players this season.
Senior guard Addie Jones is the lone returning all-conference player. She was named Honorable Mention All-Summit Conference.
“Addie is one of the better all-around players in our area,” Mansfield head coach Sam Appleby said. “She does a little bit of everything for our team and will be a leader for our younger players.”
Fellow senior Chloe Napier also returns.
“Chloe provides great size and valuable experience for our team,” Appleby said. “She is an underrated playmaker and will have a much bigger role this year.”
Sophomores Kayley Kingery (guard) and CheyAnn Price (guard) round out the returning players.
“Kayley provided a ton of value last year as a freshman. She has a natural instinct when it comes to all sports. She, like Addie Jones, will be somebody who provides a little bit of everything each game,” Appleby said. “Chey is one of our best pure shooters on our team. She provides a ton of speed and is willing to make every hustle play.”
Sophomore Rylee Dixon (forward) and freshmen Chloe Holyoak (forward) and Patience Parsons (guard) are newcomers in the mix for varsity time.
Appleby on Dixon: “Rylee has a solid basketball IQ and does a lot of little things that help a team.”
Appleby on Holyoak: “Chloe has a ton of energy and great feel for the game for her age. She also has good height and length, which will be valuable for us this year.”
Appleby on Parsons: “Patience is another solid athlete for her age, with a decent shot. She has a natural instinct for guarding on-ball.”
Overall, the young roster brings speed and athleticism.
“Our biggest strength will be our quickness and athleticism. We have some solid athletes who excel at other sports as well as basketball. We will have to rely on that during the season,” Appleby said. “We are a young team, so experience will be something we need to gain quickly to compete.”
Mansfield opens the season on Dec. 2 at home against Bakersfield.
“Our success will be determined by how much depth we have, and how quickly our younger players can learn how to play on a varsity level,” Appleby said. “We have a really fun, athletic group who seem excited to compete for a conference and district championship.”
