By Chris Parker
Gainesville girls’ basketball will look to get back to its winning ways after finishing below .500 in each of the past two seasons. Prior to 2018-19, Gainesville girls’ basketball posted six consecutive winning seasons with three district titles.
“The biggest key for our team is consistency. We lost six or seven games last year that could have gone the other way and we just didn’t get the job done,” Gainesville head coach Lance West said. “Being the third coach in the last four years makes it hard for any team to get used to a coach’s system and expectations. Last year we had some growing pains, the team had to learn a new system that was a different style of play. I think this year we are more comfortable with the system and our team chemistry is in a better place going into the season. The team has figured out what our strengths and weaknesses are and we worked on the things we need to improve on over the summer. I have my top seven players returning from last year’s team. We will have more experience this year and these girls are ready to turn this program around.”
Seniors Shayla Wages and Elizabeth Kinworthy lead those seven returning players. Both were named First-Team All-Summit Conference last season.
“Shayla is versatile player that is very athletic. She does a really solid job on both ends of the floor. She scores in various ways leading our team in scoring last season with 15.1 ppg. Shayla also causes havoc on the defensive end leading our team in steals with 2.8 spg,” West said. “Elizabeth’s inside presence is a key factor for our team. Defensively she makes it hard for teams to score inside when she’s in the game and she does a good job crashing the boards averaging 8.7 rebounds per game. Offensively, she does a good job getting open and using her body around the basket to score. She was our second leading scorer last season with 10.9 ppg.”
The will combine with classmates Erin McKinzie (point guard), Gracyn Blackburn (guard) and Gracie Strain (guard/forward) to provide a strong leadership core.
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“I have five seniors this year that I feel like are all leaders and bring something different to the team,” West said. “They all try to lead by example by working hard and keeping things positive. We will lean heavily on their senior leadership and experience throughout the year.”
McKinzie brings great court vision to the team.
“She has a high basketball IQ, and she does a lot of good things for our team on both ends of the floor,” West said. “Erin shot the ball well over the summer, and I look for her to carry that over to the season.”
Blackburn led the team in assists last season.
“Gracyn is a great team player. She looks to pass first over trying to score, that’s why she led us in assists last season with 3.1 apg,” West said. “I am counting on Gracyn to produce more for us on the offensive end this year. She is quick off the dribble and she is very capable of putting the ball in the basket.”
Strain rebounds well and takes care of the basketball according to West.
“(She) will be asked to play multiple positions for us this season. She rebounds well and she does a good job of taking care of the basketball,” West said.
Junior guard Hallee Donley returns after finishing third on the team in scoring last year.
“Hallee was the team’s third leading scorer last year with 6.1 ppg. She hustles and rebounds well for her size. She has a good shot and I look for her to have a good junior season,” West said.
Classmate Debra Winrod will have an impact on the boards and look to expand her offensive game.
“Debra will bring us energy and length off the bench for us this year. She is very aggressive and rebounds well. She was our second leading rebounder last year with almost five per game. She will also be asked to produce more for us offensively,” West said.
Senior Mercedes Shaw will bring depth off the bench this year.
Sophomore Jessee Latham (guard) along with the freshmen quartet of Jillian Morse (guard), Lakyn Suter (guard), Emory Warden (guard/forward) and Sarah Hossman (guard) will all look to make a varsity impact.
“All have a chance to possibly see some varsity minutes. These girls are young and it’s going to be up to them on how much they develop and progress in practice along with how they play in JV games,” West said.
Gainesville opens the season on Nov. 20 at home against Chadwick.
“My expectations for this group is to be more consistent on both ends of the floor. Defensively, we must bring more energy, intensity, and be more aggressive. My goal is for us to be a defensive-minded team this year,” West said. “Offensively, we have to be more consistent with our shooting and knock down shots, along with taking care of the basketball. The team understands that if we want things to change, we have to work hard and be dedicated in practice to make those changes happen. We feel like we have the right pieces and experience to have a solid team. The overall goal is for this group to have a successful season and to play our best basketball come district tournament time.”
