Basketball Preview: Fairfield Lady Lions - SHL
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Last season, the Fairfield Lady Lions had no choice but to learn on the fly and learn quickly. With no seniors last season, along with no juniors, the sophomore class was looked at to be the leaders earlier than normal ... and what did they do? The sophomore class led FHS to a win in their first regular-season game and even won a sectional game as they improved throughout the season.
One season ago wasn't full of wins, but what they had in terms in losses on the scoreboard were just a blip on the radar compared to what they gained in experience at the varsity level in the Southern Hills League.
Fairfield is coming off a 5-17 season overall (3-10 in the SHL) as they defeated Whiteoak (twice), Southeastern, East Clinton and Franklin Furnace Green.
Last year was last year in the eyes of the Lady Lions, and this upcoming season is their sole focus as they enter the season with a starting five that has seen varsity action, though a vital member from last season will miss this year due to a torn ACL in junior Shelby Smithson. Smithson started at the post last year (eight ppg and nine rpg) but was injured in the final seconds of a soccer match late in the season this past October.
The starting five for the Lady Lions will consist of one junior and four sophomores this season with junior Heather Cox (an All-SHL, honorable mention All-District) leading the way as she led FHS in scoring at 10 ppg. Sophomores in the starting five will include Kaitlin Evans (six ppg and three assists per game), Justice Hattan, Lydia Sowders and Haley Bobb.
Coach Hodson is looking to the four sophomores to step up even more than expected due to the loss of Smithson. He'll also be looking to senior Amanda Sanderson to help replace Smithson as Sanderson returns to the program after returning to the school district.
Also on the team this year are Macie Pauley, Brittany Cox, Courtney Hodson, Shaylee Carson, Emily Teeters, Mikayla Coleman and Heather Sanderson.
"It hurts to lose a player like Shelby," Hodson said. "Lydia has the experience, I feel, to step in and gain the rebounds in Shelby's absence. It is tough to lose a leader on the floor like Shelby.[[In-content Ad]]
"Lydia, Justice and Amanda all can play in the post, and we'll need them a lot this season. Lydia was a starter as a freshman last season, and it is good to have Amanda back this year."
One thing the Lady Lions have going for them is they know what they have to face and what they must do to have success on the court.
"This time last year, we didn't know what we had," Hodson said. "I had no clue how we would react to playing varsity level ball, and it did take quite a while to adjust to it. Remember, we did have all freshmen and sophomores last year, though halfway through the season last year, I told them they weren't freshmen and sophomores anymore.
"I expect us to play at a higher level this year, and the girls had a good summer gaining more experience. They played a lot this summer, and I'm sure that experience will benefit the girls."
In fact, the entire start of this season will be different for the Lady Lions.
"The team is mature at times … they still like to have their fun, and I like them to have their fun at practice, but walking into the door last year, they were wide-eyed and kind of intimidated as freshmen. My sophomores last year did a good job with them, calming them down during games and being good leaders.
"Three of them (Cox, Sowders and Bobb) played AAU this summer, which is a rarity here at Leesburg. That's helped their game quite a bit."
Hodson also mentioned the improvements he wants to see from his players.
"We have to take care of the ball better," he said. "The first eight games last year, we averaged 35 turnovers a game. At the end of the year, we were averaging 20. We have to limit our turnovers to be successful.
"We're going to try to get up and down the floor. We have athletes where we can push the ball a little bit and try to get some transition points off our defense. We're going to go man-to-man most of the time."
Even with an uphill climb ahead of them in the SHL, the team is excited for the season.
"I'm excited," Hodson said. "The girls are excited and have been all summer. They played together all summer, and everyone is pumped up to get the season started, where this time last year everyone was really nervous about the upcoming season.
"The ladies have adopted the saying 'Go Hard or Go Home' this year. It's been our motto this preseason, and they've lived up to that every day in practice. They work hard and want to be the hardest-working team in the SHL."
One season ago wasn't full of wins, but what they had in terms in losses on the scoreboard were just a blip on the radar compared to what they gained in experience at the varsity level in the Southern Hills League.
Fairfield is coming off a 5-17 season overall (3-10 in the SHL) as they defeated Whiteoak (twice), Southeastern, East Clinton and Franklin Furnace Green.
Last year was last year in the eyes of the Lady Lions, and this upcoming season is their sole focus as they enter the season with a starting five that has seen varsity action, though a vital member from last season will miss this year due to a torn ACL in junior Shelby Smithson. Smithson started at the post last year (eight ppg and nine rpg) but was injured in the final seconds of a soccer match late in the season this past October.
The starting five for the Lady Lions will consist of one junior and four sophomores this season with junior Heather Cox (an All-SHL, honorable mention All-District) leading the way as she led FHS in scoring at 10 ppg. Sophomores in the starting five will include Kaitlin Evans (six ppg and three assists per game), Justice Hattan, Lydia Sowders and Haley Bobb.
Coach Hodson is looking to the four sophomores to step up even more than expected due to the loss of Smithson. He'll also be looking to senior Amanda Sanderson to help replace Smithson as Sanderson returns to the program after returning to the school district.
Also on the team this year are Macie Pauley, Brittany Cox, Courtney Hodson, Shaylee Carson, Emily Teeters, Mikayla Coleman and Heather Sanderson.
"It hurts to lose a player like Shelby," Hodson said. "Lydia has the experience, I feel, to step in and gain the rebounds in Shelby's absence. It is tough to lose a leader on the floor like Shelby.[[In-content Ad]]
"Lydia, Justice and Amanda all can play in the post, and we'll need them a lot this season. Lydia was a starter as a freshman last season, and it is good to have Amanda back this year."
One thing the Lady Lions have going for them is they know what they have to face and what they must do to have success on the court.
"This time last year, we didn't know what we had," Hodson said. "I had no clue how we would react to playing varsity level ball, and it did take quite a while to adjust to it. Remember, we did have all freshmen and sophomores last year, though halfway through the season last year, I told them they weren't freshmen and sophomores anymore.
"I expect us to play at a higher level this year, and the girls had a good summer gaining more experience. They played a lot this summer, and I'm sure that experience will benefit the girls."
In fact, the entire start of this season will be different for the Lady Lions.
"The team is mature at times … they still like to have their fun, and I like them to have their fun at practice, but walking into the door last year, they were wide-eyed and kind of intimidated as freshmen. My sophomores last year did a good job with them, calming them down during games and being good leaders.
"Three of them (Cox, Sowders and Bobb) played AAU this summer, which is a rarity here at Leesburg. That's helped their game quite a bit."
Hodson also mentioned the improvements he wants to see from his players.
"We have to take care of the ball better," he said. "The first eight games last year, we averaged 35 turnovers a game. At the end of the year, we were averaging 20. We have to limit our turnovers to be successful.
"We're going to try to get up and down the floor. We have athletes where we can push the ball a little bit and try to get some transition points off our defense. We're going to go man-to-man most of the time."
Even with an uphill climb ahead of them in the SHL, the team is excited for the season.
"I'm excited," Hodson said. "The girls are excited and have been all summer. They played together all summer, and everyone is pumped up to get the season started, where this time last year everyone was really nervous about the upcoming season.
"The ladies have adopted the saying 'Go Hard or Go Home' this year. It's been our motto this preseason, and they've lived up to that every day in practice. They work hard and want to be the hardest-working team in the SHL."