By Chris Parker
Liberty girls basketball suffered the program’s first losing season since 2015 last year, but don’t expect a repeat this year.
The Eagles didn’t have a single senior on last year’s team, so there is experience returning up and down the roster with all five starters returning.
“We are mostly all upperclassmen,” Liberty head coach Elijah Ernst said. “It’s time for our athletes to show what they have learned from the previous years of development and put it on the floor.”
Senior Abby Woolsey is the top returning player. She led Liberty in every major statistical category with 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.3 assists per game last year. Woolsey was named second-team all-conference.
“We are excited to be able to play in multiple different actions this season and look for big things from her,” Ernst said.
Liberty will also be adding back Senior Lexi Shumpert who missed last season with an injury.
“Lexi is returning to us this season after missing her junior year due to an ACL injury,” Ernst said. “Her big game experience and leadership will be needed this year on the floor.”
Senior Kenna Woolsey along with juniors Sydnee LaFevers, Chloe Kelts and Lyla Cornman and sophomore Reagan Wells return to the team this year.
Woolsey averaged 5.2 points and 1.5 steals per game last year.
“Kenna is one of our five returning starters and is a defensive specialist,” Ernst said. “Her game took a huge jump this past summer as her offensive product increased. We are excited to see her put it all together for her senior campaign.”
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LaFevers was the team’s third-leading scorer last year at 7.4 points per game. She also pulled down 6.2 rebounds per game.
“Syd is one of our more consistent players from a year ago,” Ernst said. “We always know what she will bring but will challenge her to push her production this season to be considered as one of the better players in our conference.”
Kelts chipped in 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
“Kelts is a player who plays her best when she can get to the rim,” Ernst said. “Her ability to make outside shots are better when her complete game is involved on the floor.”
Cornman is a strong rebounder who was second on the team with 7 rebounds per game last year. She also added in 5.6 points per game.
“Lyla is one of the stronger players I have coached,” Ernst said. “She doesn’t ever seem to get pushed around. At 5’6, she has a lower center of gravity and can use that to establish position on taller players.”
Wells earned honorable mention all-conference honors last year. She was the only freshman to be named All-SCA last season. She averaged 8.2 points and 4 rebounds per game as a freshman.
“Reagan came up for us as the year progressed,” Ernst said. “She was an all-conference player by the end of the season. Reagan is a gym rat. Simply loves to be around the game.”
Freshman Hadley Chowning will make an immediate impact on the varsity level.
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“Hadley comes to us as a freshman with tons of talent,” Ernst said. “She is incredibly quick with the ball and has a knack to find the rim.”
Liberty will travel to Hollister on Nov. 16 for a jamboree with Branson, Hollister and Reeds Spring. The Eagles will open the regular season on Nov. 22 at Alton.
“We strive to be a team this year that other teams don’t want to play. We want to be a team that will compete for championships and we will be found putting in the work that that identity may require,” Ernst said. “We are coming off a season that we have placed behind us. We expect to return to the standard of what we have been in the previous three years. This team has the makings of being a very strong team. Once our belief matches our ability we will be back in the mix.”
