State-ranked teams hope for run
By Lori Tippets
The
Down the road in
For the Piedmont Lady Bulldogs, this season has been a surprise; not in the way they have played, but in the record they have amassed along the way. Head coach Matt Deerman comments, “I thought from the beginning that we would have a good season, but I never dreamed that it would be this good.”
It has been a long road for the four seniors on the team, Kylea Cook, Shalitha Swain, Brooke Dixon and Heather Cain. Their freshman year the girls posted a dismal 4-19 record but from there it has been all uphill.
“They could have quit their first year as ninth graders,” says Deerman, “they stuck with it and believed in what we were doing. It is a credit to them; they have very good character.”
The only blemish on Piedmont’s record came in the
The loss, though at the time heart-breaking to the Lady Bulldogs who had hoped to make a run for the county championship, had its silver lining. “Even though the loss that night wasn’t fun, especially in that kind of atmosphere, we had the best four days of practice after that we have had in the last four years,” says Deerman. “This all comes from our senior leadership; we’ve been playing much better since then.”
No doubt it is the seniors that have proven the catalyst to the team’s success this year. Team leader Swain leads the team in scoring with 17 points per game. Deerman describes Swain as “the best vocal leader. She gets on people when they are not doing well.”
The other three seniors, Cook, Cain and
Cain, the only senior that doesn’t start due to an injury last year, is the first off the bench this year and has bolstered the starting lineup in her new role.
The seniors are aided by Brittany Strott, a junior, and Raven Prater, a sophomore. Strott has made a big difference to the team this year with her scoring and ball handling. In Prater, Deerman feels he has a complete basketball player. “She is probably the best basketball player from top to bottom,” observes Deerman.
In the area tournament with Piedmont will be Sand Rock,
As for his chances in the tournament, Deerman concedes that nothing is set in stone. “There’s not a whole lot of difference in the top three teams.”
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While Gaston showed its strength, the Thunder showed its weaknesses, literally. Top scorer Katy Miller, sick with the flu, left her bed to come play the game. The virus had struck the entire team and they were, well, physically weak to say the least. Even Head Coach Tommy Miller had to miss the highly anticipated game, afflicted with the flu so badly that he was hospitalized.
The team played out of sync and never got into the rhythm that had gotten them to Regionals. The experience was enough to wet their appetites however, and the Thunder has been hungry to make a repeat appearance at the Coliseum.
Ranked No. 7 in Class 1A the Thunder has put up impressive numbers while coasting to a 21-4 season. Thursday night they will face Coosa Christian in their area tournament on the first step of post-season play.
JCA is not an intimidating team when it comes to size; they aren’t even really that quick. But what they lack in these areas they make up in character and team togetherness. “Our starting five plays well together,” says Coach Miller. “We make up for what we lack physically by playing with good attitudes and playing in the right spirit.”
JCA is led by senior Joy Robinson and ninth grader Katy Miller. Miller, who has made an impact on the Thunder team since she was in seventh grade, leads the team in scoring with just under 20 points per game, while averaging over nine rebounds and three assists.
Robinson is second in scoring averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists. It is not uncommon for both girls to be in double-double figures. Robinson handles point guard duties and handles the pressure well. She is an asset both offensively and defensively.
Miller is the spark-plug on the team, the Energizer bunny. The youngest starter on the squad, she is far more mature in basketball skills and knowledge than peers her age. Miller also has a lot of confidence, as observed by her father, Coach Miller, “Someone can block Katy’s shot two times down the floor and she comes down the third time and in her mind she still can make the shot. She doesn’t get intimidated by size or anything. Katy has a lot of self-confidence when it comes to her being able to score.
Stacey Hurst and Angela Mundy are two other seniors that have proven invaluable to the team. “Stacey knows exactly what her limitations are and uses the abilities she’s got to the best of the team. She’s a very good set shot shooter,” says Coach Miller.
“Angela is our quickest guard. When we need to play someone in a box-and–one Angela draws that assignment.”
Another starter, Chelsea Smith, Miller describes as being, “the quietest on the court.” But don’t underestimate the toned down player. “Of the five starters her play is very important to our winning, but in a way that doesn’t draw a lot of attention. She is in the right place at the right time. She is very smart and is a big factor in us putting up 21 wins.
While the Thunder would like nothing more than to make it back to Regionals, Coach Miller knows that it all comes down to keeping his team focused. “It’s who doesn’t get distracted. Staying focused is not easy to do with everything going on around you.”
