Image 1 / 2
Photo by Brian Schoenhals
For the first time in five seasons the Lady Tigers are going to open up the season without their all time leading scorer Jessica Merritt. Lady Tigers head coach Jannie Keith is excited about the different weapons that she has on this season’s team.
“I am excited about this team,” Keith said. ”First of all we have Marie McAbee back this year. We still have a post player. I have two guards that seem like they are going to step it up this year in Shacara Reynolds and Jalisa Johnson.
“Jalisa Johnson does a lot of driving and penetrating, which is kind of similar to Jessica’s (Merritt) game. That is going to help us out a lot. We have Whitney Scales, it seems like she is going to step up and play in the post. So we are still going to be alright this year; we are looking for good things to happen.”
The Lady Tigers will look to McAbee to carry the load on offense this season. McAbee averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds last season. The 5-foot-8 forward is excited about the season.
“I am going to bring my all this year,” McAbee said. “This is my senior year. I am laying it all out on the table. I am ready and looking forward to a good season.”
Last season the Lady Tigers fell in the Central Regional Finals in Montgomery. Keith believes the experience her underclassmen received in that tournament will help them this season.
“Three of the girls that got minutes in the Regional Tournament are back this year,” Keith said. “Shacara (Reynolds), Christi Jones, and Marriah Higgins. Mariah Higgins is shooting real well from outside.
“So it is going to be a little different than last year. I think my girls where standing around and watching Jessica.
“This year it looks like all of them are offensive minded. We still going to play defense, run and shoot. We are going to have the gun cocked and see what we can do.”
McAbee believes making it that far last season will help them if they are able to make it again this season.
“We know what we are going to see if we make it back this year,” McAbee said. “This year we are going to know what we are going to have to look for, so we should already know what to do.”
Just like the years past, the Lady Tigers will depend on their stingy defense to beat their opponents. Keith believes if her team plays Talladega basketball they will open the season with a win against Gadsden City.
“Gadsden City always has a strong team,” Keith said. “They play good ball. It is not going to be a walk in the park.
“We are going to have to play good ball.
“We are ready for it; we have been practicing for it for three weeks. I think my girls are ready for the first game.
“Win, lose or draw we will be ready to play ball. I think that we are going to come out on top if we play good ball. Like I said defense is the name of the game.”
Post a Comment
