By Kary Booher
The basketball fans in Mansfield have every reason to be optimistic. After all, the Lady Lions basketball team returns a ton of experience and experience.
Not that you’ll hear coach Gary Greene boasting about it too much.
“We have a chance. Now, I’m not going to say we’re going to be good,” Greene said. “One injury could change the whole deal.”
Now in his ninth season at Mansfield, Greene speaks from experience. A year ago, on the third day of practice, the Lady Lions lost a player who averaged close to a triple-double as a sophomore.
Fortunately for Mansfield, senior Alexis James is back, and so are five others with tremendous starting experience for the Lions, who also should have quality depth to compete in the Summit Conference and Class 2 District 4.
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The other starters are seniors Adrian Adams, Macy Gray, Calista Bogart, Alexis Farris and sophomore Karsyn Brooke, who was all-district after averaging 10 points and eight rebounds.
A 6-foot-1 player, James joined the team ahead of the 2014-2015 season after playing on a home-school team and then averaged 15 points, 11.4 rebounds and eight assists for Mansfield. Unfortunately, a knee injury wrecked her junior season.
“She’s arguably my best 3-point shooter. She wasn’t as a sophomore, but she has that ability,” said Greene, who is 241-164 overall, including 100-111 at Mansfield.
Her return bolsters a team that should be even more optimistic after Mansfield scratched out a 13-15 season last year, beating state-ranked Fordland at one point and reaching a district tournament semifinal before falling to state quarterfinalist Gainesville.
To Greene, Mansfield has had two seasons – last winter and the summer — playing without James, and should only improve as she returns to the lineup.
“They’ve been pretty tight for a long time and, when James moved in, we thought we had a chance to be competitive,” Greene said.
Brooke is a 5-foot-9 player whose strength will be a key factor as Mansfield tries to wear down opponents.
“She started off really well last year and led us in scoring in rebounding,” Greene said. “And she plays really hard.”
Adams is a four-year starter and point guard.
“She’s one of those kids who has potential,” Greene said. “She just needs to be consistent as a starter. She’s been working hard.”
Farris was the team’s best 3-point shooter percentage-wise last year and, as Greene noted, “She’s tall and lanky and can create problems for people.”
Because Mansfield has quickness at guards and size inside, the Lady Lions should be balanced. They’ll likely play a more half-court attack.
“We’re going to be opportunistic up-tempo but we won’t do it just for the sake of doing it,” Greene said. “I think it’s foolish if your players’ skill-level doesn’t dictate what you do.”
Depth is encouraging for the Lions, whose bench includes seniors Kyla Corder and Kally Garrison as well as sophomores Hannah Tripp, Lauren Harris and Grace Roy.
Not that Greene went overboard this summer in getting the team ready. Mansfield did compete at the Nixa Shootout and in its own league. But …
“I don’t like them to play 100 games. I think kids need to be kids,” Greene said. “Now they’re coming in (for fall workouts) on their own. They’re not burned out, and are looking forward to it.”
Fresh legs will be key in a conference and district that includes Gainesville, Hartville, Mansfield, Norwood, Plato, Seymour and Sparta.
“We’re looking forward to this year,” Greene said. “It should be a fun year.”
