By John Miller (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Having depth at the guard position is a benefit that most teams don’t have. For the Glendale Lady Falcons this winter, it’s an advantage they’ll enjoy.
“We have 12 to 14 kids that will compete for varsity minutes,” said fourth-year coach Trish Marsh. “I am excited to have depth to play a little different style this year.”
Last season, Glendale finished with a 6-19 mark, including a 3-6 record in the Ozark Conference. An opening round loss to Lebanon in district play ended the Lady Falcons season.
As Glendale turns the page on last year, they’ll look for significant contributions from a large group of returners, led by seniors Emily Phillips, Kayla Bradley, Kayla Craft, and Lydia Potter.
Phillips was an Honorable Mention All-Conference pick last year after averaging 8.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. She’s entering her third year as the Lady Falcons’ starting point guard.
“She has really worked hard this offseason,” Marsh said. “She’s improved her midrange game to go along with her 3-point shooting.”
Brady, Craft, and Potter all give Glendale versatility thanks to their athleticism. Brady averaged 8.2 points and 2.8 rebounds last year. Craft chipped in 7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds, and Potter was good for 2.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
“Kayla (Brady) is very good at getting to the rim off the dribble,” said Marsh. “We look for her to continue to find opportunities to score off the bounce or create some for her teammates. Kayla (Craft) can play any position on the court, which poses a matchup problem for some teams. Lydia is one of our most athletic players. She provides quickness at the post position and excels in getting key rebounds.”
Glendale will also look for production from a group of three juniors, including Anna Sallee, Sunshine Stover, and Alyvia Goddard. Stover averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds last season.
“Anna has improved her outside shooting over the offseason and is one of our grittiest perimeter defenders,” said Marsh. “Sunshine is a guard that gives us size, ball-handling, and the ability to score in a variety of ways. Alyvia is a gamer and is one of our most aggressive players with the ball in her hands.”
Sophomore Reilly Heman started as a freshman and will be a key player for the Lady Falcons with a year of varsity experience under her belt. She averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last season. Fellow sophomore Elizabeth Enos returns after limited minutes in the paint last season.
Along with a large returning class, Glendale will look for production from a group of newcomers that includes senior Lael Seats and three sophomores: Skylar Bencsek, Shanya, Shade, and Rachel Flewell.
Seats suffered an ACL injury in the middle of her sophomore year and returned last year for Glendale. Her leadership will be valued this season. Bencsek was the point guard on the JV team last year and is expected to compete for minutes at the varsity level. Shade is coming off a great summer and is hoping to carry that momentum into the winter season. Flewell moved to Glendale from Canada and is expected to compete for minutes.
“Rachel has a high basketball IQ for a young player and good offensive skills,” Marsh said.
Competing in the Ozark Conference is never easy, but with a large group of athletic and versatile players, the Glendale Lady Falcons hope they have the pieces for a strong season this winter.
