By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Pierce City has enjoyed a wealth of success under head coach Rob Guerin, who enters his seventh season at the program’s helm.
The Lady Eagles have posted at least 20 wins during five of the past six seasons under Guerin and have captured and equal number of district titles.
Pierce City went 22-7 last season, falling in the sectional round to Blue Eye.
The Lady Eagles graduate a quartet of talented seniors, including Emily Drollinger, Libbey Strickler, Ragan Blinzler and Belle Golubski.
Golubski and Blinzer will be particularly missed due to leadership, scoring ability and matchup problems for opposing teams.
“This will definitely be a rebuilding year,” Guerin said. “We have some good returning post players, but we graduated some good guards.”
One thing Pierce City didn’t lose is a wealth of size.
The Lady Eagles return a trio of varsity lettermen all around or above the six-foot mark, led by 5-foot-11 Kendyl Hayward (17.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg).
The senior forward is expected to break the 1,000-point barrier this season.
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“(Hayward) will be expected to continue to dominate on scoring and rebounding,” Guerin said. “But this year she will be the leader of the team and will be expected to teach the younger girls as well as push them to become better.”
6-foot sophomore Leslie Jones (4.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and 6-foot sophomore Katie Tindell (2.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg) also return to the roster.
Newcomers to the roster who could make an immediate impact include 5-foot-1 freshman Sydnee Prater, 5-foot-4 freshman Chelsey Puckett, 5-foot-6 Kaylie Buller, 5-foot Haley Portillo and 5-foot-8 Claire Eaton.
With a host of young, inexperienced players on the roster, Pierce City will look to its experienced post players early and often this season.
“We will definitely have size with the returning post players, and I expect to be able to score inside and rebound on a nightly basis,” Guerin said. “With young guards, they will need to take care of the ball, and handle pressure that will be put on them by defenders. We will have freshmen on the court all the time, and (our success) will depend on how well they are able to learn and play a faster paced game.”
While Guerin feels his program is in a rebuilding year, if the team is able to overcome its lack of experience early on, don’t be surprised to the Lady Eagles threaten another 20-win season.
“This team will have to learn to play together and be able to pick one another up and continue to grow as a team,” Guerin said. “We will face adversity and our success will depend on how well we are able to handle those situations.”
Pierce City opens its season Nov. 19 at Cassville.
