By Chris Parker
Crocker girls basketball will look to climb above .500 after back-to-back 13-13 seasons.
Nine players return for the Lady Lions that saw varsity time last year. That group includes: Mariah Dean (senior guard/forward), Abigail Posten (senior point guard), Morgan Wall (senior guard), Madison Markley (senior center), Abby Harrison (junior guard), Kennedy Killian (junior forward), Megan Becker (junior forward), Callie McMurtrey (junior forward) and Skyeler Layman (sophomore guard).
Layman is the top returning scorer after averaging 9.8 points per game last season. Wall (7.5 ppg), Dean (6.9 ppg), Becker (5.8 ppg) and Posten (4.6 ppg) all averaged between five and eight points per game last year.
“I think our biggest strength is our depth and experience,” Crocker head coach Rich Mueller said. “Last season we were plagued with injuries and because of that we had nine different players that started and played significant minutes and roles. The experience these young players gained was invaluable and, with the loss of only one senior, we return an experienced group that all have something important to offer.”
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Crocker lost six games by single digits and three more that the Lady Lions had the lead at the half.
“Remaining injury free is something we need to have this season,” Mueller said. “The one thing that needs the most improvement from last year is our mental toughness. As a young team last year we suffered from a lack of varsity experience.”
The Lady Lions also have a strong group of nine freshmen that went 14-3 last season as eighth graders. Several of those players will push for playing time for a Crocker team that has big goals this year.
“The Crocker Lady Lions will be a team that is going to be very competitive with every opponent on our schedule,” Mueller said. “We expect to be one of the top teams in the Frisco League and our district.”
Crocker opens the season on Nov. 22 at Tuscumbia.
