Basketball Preview: Whiteoak Lady Wildcats - SHL
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The past couple seasons for the Whiteoak Lady Wildcat basketball program haven't been the best of times in terms of winning games, but this year, WHS looks to keep improving on the court, and in turn, that could lead to wins once the final buzzer sounds.
For the Lady 'Cats, they are coming off consecutive seasons of two wins last year, and two years ago, they won just once as they are continuing to rebuild a program that hasn't won a postseason game in two seasons.
Leading that rebuilding process is head coach Mike Cooper, who now has girls excited to play basketball at WHS once again as they head into this season with high energy and optimism of improvement as their key goal this season.
WHS (2-19 one year ago, 1-12 in the SHL) has just three players who will be entering their third season at the varsity level, with one senior in Clarissa Johnson and returning juniors Morgan Campbell and Brittany Luman.
Luman is the returning leading scorer at seven points per game, and Amber Gorman is the returning leader in rebounds with an average of four per game.
Last season, WHS defeated West Union and Felicity.
"We've made strides and have good numbers with 19 kids this year," WHS head coach Mike Cooper said. "In our scrimmages, I see the improvement on defense, and we are doing a better job as a team.
"We just need to continue to improve each time we practice and in each game, too."
On the roster are 11 returning players to the program from either the varsity or junior varsity level. On the varsity roster that have yet to be named are junior Amber Gorman; sophomores Sunnie Lehr, Emily Stratton, Jayde Parr, Courtney Cummings, Misty McClure and Savannah Johnson; and freshmen Ashleigh Harless, Emma Wardlow and Michaela Luman.[[In-content Ad]]
That group of players will need to fill the void left from graduating seniors from last season in Jessie Gilliland and Marissa Bohl as Gilliland led WHS in scoring last year (12 points per game), and Bohl led WHS in rebounds (7 rebounds per game).
"It is a lot easier in practice this year for the reason most of the girls have been through them before and know what to expect," Cooper said. "We don't have to teach everything from the beginning. The girls know, and my upperclassmen have taken the leadership role to heart, and the other players are following their lead."
Gorman is in her second season at varsity, and sophomores Stratton, Cummings and Lehr all have experience as well. Coach Cooper is also looking to freshman Wardlow to be a big part of the Lady 'Cat offense this season as Stratton, Cummings and Wardlow will be looked at to lead from the point guard position this season.
"We'll have about an eight-player rotation that will see a majority of the minutes," Cooper said. "But so far, defensively, I'm pleased with our defensive play in our scrimmages.
"Last year, we gave up too many uncontested jumpers, but so far, I can see we are running the floor much better. The girls are making this work and are putting in the time to improve."
Coach Cooper continued to talk about what he expects from the point guard position this year.
"Emily [Stratton] was our sixth man last year, but now we have to put more on her shoulders to get better overall," Cooper said. "We are just ready to get this season started and see what happens."
For the Lady 'Cats, they are coming off consecutive seasons of two wins last year, and two years ago, they won just once as they are continuing to rebuild a program that hasn't won a postseason game in two seasons.
Leading that rebuilding process is head coach Mike Cooper, who now has girls excited to play basketball at WHS once again as they head into this season with high energy and optimism of improvement as their key goal this season.
WHS (2-19 one year ago, 1-12 in the SHL) has just three players who will be entering their third season at the varsity level, with one senior in Clarissa Johnson and returning juniors Morgan Campbell and Brittany Luman.
Luman is the returning leading scorer at seven points per game, and Amber Gorman is the returning leader in rebounds with an average of four per game.
Last season, WHS defeated West Union and Felicity.
"We've made strides and have good numbers with 19 kids this year," WHS head coach Mike Cooper said. "In our scrimmages, I see the improvement on defense, and we are doing a better job as a team.
"We just need to continue to improve each time we practice and in each game, too."
On the roster are 11 returning players to the program from either the varsity or junior varsity level. On the varsity roster that have yet to be named are junior Amber Gorman; sophomores Sunnie Lehr, Emily Stratton, Jayde Parr, Courtney Cummings, Misty McClure and Savannah Johnson; and freshmen Ashleigh Harless, Emma Wardlow and Michaela Luman.[[In-content Ad]]
That group of players will need to fill the void left from graduating seniors from last season in Jessie Gilliland and Marissa Bohl as Gilliland led WHS in scoring last year (12 points per game), and Bohl led WHS in rebounds (7 rebounds per game).
"It is a lot easier in practice this year for the reason most of the girls have been through them before and know what to expect," Cooper said. "We don't have to teach everything from the beginning. The girls know, and my upperclassmen have taken the leadership role to heart, and the other players are following their lead."
Gorman is in her second season at varsity, and sophomores Stratton, Cummings and Lehr all have experience as well. Coach Cooper is also looking to freshman Wardlow to be a big part of the Lady 'Cat offense this season as Stratton, Cummings and Wardlow will be looked at to lead from the point guard position this season.
"We'll have about an eight-player rotation that will see a majority of the minutes," Cooper said. "But so far, defensively, I'm pleased with our defensive play in our scrimmages.
"Last year, we gave up too many uncontested jumpers, but so far, I can see we are running the floor much better. The girls are making this work and are putting in the time to improve."
Coach Cooper continued to talk about what he expects from the point guard position this year.
"Emily [Stratton] was our sixth man last year, but now we have to put more on her shoulders to get better overall," Cooper said. "We are just ready to get this season started and see what happens."