By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Hillcrest Lady Hornets return four starters for the 2021-22 season, plus a familiar face on the sideline.
Justin Gerald is back on the Lady Hornets’ bench this season after guiding the Football Hornets for the past three years. Prior to that stint, Gerald led the Lady Hornets from 2016-2018.
After finishing the 2020-2021 season with a 3-21 overall record, 0-9 in the Ozark Conference, including a first-round exit in the Class 5 District 10 tournament, Gerald is looking to get his alma mater back on the winning track.
“My philosophy this season is going to be – run,” said Gerald, who was an all-state selection and the Springfield Quarterback Club’s All-City MVP as a running back/defensive back for the Hornets. “Everything we do, we will run. Our hustle, our effort is what we will hang our hats on.”
The Lady Hornets will need to replace the hole left by all-conference defensive team selection Tiana Gourdin, but they do have two key returnees in seniors Kiley Coffelt and Jimm’esha Davis.
• Kiley Coffelt, 5-foot-5 senior – Averaged 6.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while earning all-district honors. “Kiley has been our main ballhandler for the past couple of years,” Gerald said. “We have a couple of ballhandlers this year that may give Kiley the opportunity to play off the ball, come off a screen, catch ready to shoot, as she has an awesome 3-point shot. I am very excited to watch Kiley this season, she seems rejuvenated.”
• Jimm’esha Davis, 5-11 senior – Averaged 19.8 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 3.1 spg in limited action and was an all-district selection. “Jimm-esha is a four-year starter that went through a tough situation last season and is ready to show what she’s learned from it. I am anxious to work with Jimm’esha and all the experience she brings to the team.”
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Gerald also is encouraged by a few of the newcomers he has joining his squad in Chloe Sutherland, Sara Ortiz and Faith Askins.
• Chloe Sutherland, 6-2, senior – “Chloe has not played since her freshman year but decided to return to the hardwood over the summer. She is tall, athletic and she can handle the basketball. She has a soft touch around the rim and nice mid-range jump shot to go with it. We are looking forward to having Chloe back with our program this season; she is a great pick-up.”
• Sara Ortiz, 5-5, junior – “Sara joins us from Spain as a foreign exchange student at Hillcrest. She is a naturally gifted point guard. Sara is a very smooth ballhandler and shooter. We as a program are excited for her. I think Sara is excited to see what she can do against some of the talent we have in our area; should be an awesome experience.”
• Faith Askins, 5-7, junior – “Faith is not really a newcomer to our team, but I do think her impact on the varsity level this season will be something to watch. Faith has worked really hard to improve her game. She has always been a hustler and this season will be no different when it comes to our expectations of her energy.”
The Lady Hornets open their season on the road at Carthage on Nov. 23.
“I look forward to being back on the high school coaching scene,” Gerald said. “This will be an awesome season for the Lady Hornets; everyone on the team will have a role and a purpose for our success. How well we treat our role and work on our craft will determine what kind of experience we have.”
