Lady Dawgs want to build on last season
With nine returning veterans including four starters and a promising crop of newcomers, the Lady Dawgs have the tools including team speed, quickness and perimeter shooting to create the ultimate havoc in their new neighborhood, District 8-3A.
“We must create havoc with our defensive full-court pressure and push the ball in transition,” said Lady Dawgs head coach Mike Cavender, who is in his second season at the helm. “When you are playing a transition game as fast as ours, you have to have quality people to bring off the bench to contribute and play meaningful minutes. It always helps to have different kids who you can bring off the bench with different abilities that they can bring to the table.”
Junior guard Shanise Graeter is one of the key veterans returning with her relentless defense, toughness and shooting. Mandi Lindley and Kerstyn Towslee will be at the three-guard position, while Manda Martin will run the point this year. Christina Henderson has been moved to a guard position and should be explosive with her speed, ball-handling skills and excellent shooting range.
With an improved perimeter shot and quickness, 5-foot 7-inch junior Brooke Rockafellow is expected to be an impact player. McKinsey Cozart, a solid defender and rebounder at 5-8, is expected to become more of an offensive threat.
Cavender is looking to Tara Canty to be his utility player because of her versatility and court intelligence and 5-9 junior Eden Sultemeir will be expected to fill big shoes at the post position left vacant by the graduation of Felicia Kennedy.
New prospects including agile and powerful 5-9 sophomore Jessica Robinson at post, hustling Stormie Wilfong, 5-8 inside player and shooter Allison McClennen, defensive stopper Heather Scoggins, and 5-8 senior Callie Smith, who Cavender said “has tremendous potential but has been out of ball since her freshman year and is playing catch up.”
Senior Casi Ritchie, a 5-9 forward, is trying to make it back from a knee injury she suffered last season.
Cavender said to improve on last year’s season mark of 16-15, the Lady Dawgs would need to improve in some specific areas.
“We have to do a better job of controlling the dribbler with our defensive pressure and on offense, we have to improve on our shot selection and shooting percentages,” he said. “Seeing the floor better will help to find the player with the best shot in our transition style of offense.”
The Lady Dawgs host District 16-5A Cedar Park Nov. 15 in a 1 p.m. game and then travel to Killeen Nov. 18. Non-league games will continue through Dec. 16.
“Most of our non-district schedule are teams who have traditionally been in the playoffs, so it will be important for us to compete well in non-district and tournament action before district begins in order to gain confidence,” Cavender said.
District 8-3A action gets underway for Burnet with a home game Dec. 19 against a tough Wimberley squad that figures to be a playoff team.
“I think Liberty Hill, Llano, Fredericksburg, Wimberley all have excellent traditions in girls basketball,” Cavender said. “I think it will be a dogfight to make the top three play-off positions in our district. Ingram has been down the last few years, but they made some big steps forward from last season and expect to build on that. Canyon Lake is going to get better and better every year as they grow. Our goal is to compete for the district championship and make the playoffs after a six-year absence.”