By Chris Parker
Diamond went 18-9 last year led by a pair of freshmen all-conference players in Taaron Drake and Grace Frazier.
Drake, a 5’3 shooting guard, was named second-team all-conference last year. She is currently recovering from an injury suffered over the summer.
Frazier is a 5’3 point guard who earned honorable mention all-conference honors. She went down late in the season with a knee injury.
“She (Frazier) simply makes everyone around her better. She is a great leader and floor general that I can count on to shut down the other team’s best player,” Diamond head coach Marty Atnip said. “She was a captain last year which is unbelievable for her teammates to have that much confidence in her and she has grown into a more vocal leader this year.”
DOWNLOAD THE O-ZONE APP NOW!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR APPLE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID
Seniors Lexy Bridges and Madi Bentley along with sophomores Makaylynn Lafferty and Caitlyn Suhrie all return from last year’s team.
Atnip on Bridges: “A senior post who was a huge spark coming off the bench last year giving us instant offense and athleticism to press and run the floor. She should be much improved post player this year being two years removed from ACL surgery.”
Atnip on Bentley: “A senior who played big for us last year as a rebounder and always took the best post player from the other team”
Atnip on Lafferty: “A 5’11 10th grader who was our enforcer in the middle almost blocking two shots a game and leading us in points in the paint.”
Atnip on Suhrie: “Sophomore guard who was our most improved player from last year and I expect her to take huge leaps as a player this year too.”
Two freshmen in Lauren Turner and Kabrie Parmley are expected to make immediate impacts.
Atnip on Turner: “She is so athletic and can play about any position on the floor and do it well. She will be another scoring punch that will give us more options and harder for other teams to prepare for.”
Atnip on Parmley: “She is another freshmen who has sprouted up since her 8th grade year last year and will give us some depth at the post position. She is another versatile player who is quick and will only get better as the season progresses.”
CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF THE WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS
Diamond will feature athleticism and depth with a focus on staying healthy this year.
“Athleticism, quickness and depth will be a strength because we have so many players that when I go to the bench we won’t be losing much when they come on the floor,” Atnip said. “For us to take the next step this year in our program we need to first stay healthy and next be better at taking care of the ball, rebounding and hitting clutch free throws.”
Diamond opens the season on Nov. 12 at the Jasper Jamboree. The Wildcats open the regular season on Nov. 22 at home against Sparta.
