By Chris Parker
Mountain Grove girls basketball has a new head coach in Jimmy Lincoln this season. He has coached for 24 years with an overall record of 437-235.
He inherits a team that finished 6-17 (1-6 in conference) last season. Mountain Grove girls basketball has not finished above .500 since 2015 and hasn’t had double digit wins in a season since 2017.
The good news is that nine players who saw varsity action last season return.
Junior Reagan Hoerning leads that group. She earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season after she averaged 10 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
“We feel that she (Hoerning) will be a leading scorer and rebounder,” Lincoln said. A hard-nosed player that plays bigger than her size. Is a key to us having success this year.”
Seniors Addy Welch, Maci Penner and Destiny Caldwell all saw time in at least 10 varsity contests last year. Welch averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over 23 games played. Penner averaged 4 ppg over 13 games. Caldwell saw action in 10 games.
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Lincoln on Welch: “Addy is very valuable to our team this year. She will play all three guard spots. Led the team in 3-point % and made 3’s last year, and expect the same this year. Very good defender and rebounder. Will be team leader and captain.”
Lincoln on Penner: “An athletic guard that will be very valuable to team success this year. She can score and we will expect her to be one of leading scorers this year.”
Lincoln on Caldwell: “Expecting to get quality minutes out of her this year. Will be valuable defensively and with rebounding. Her size will help us on the boards.”
A large sophomore group that saw varsity action as freshmen also returns. That group includes: Campbell Welch, Jozey Macpherson, Kaily Wake, Summer Yarger and Taylor Hicks. Welch saw action in 23 games last year averaging 5.1 points per game.
Lincoln on Welch: “Sophomore that got a lot of experience playing varsity last year. Very athletic and shoots the ball well. I have high expectations for her this year. Will be a major part of the team.”
Lincoln on Macpherson: “Best female athlete in school. Her speed and quickness will help us. She will be a point guard and looking forward to her to have a breakout year.”
Lincoln on Wake: “Very good athlete. Her quickness and speed will help defensively. She will be our best defensive player. She will probably guard the other team’s best offensive player. Over the summer her shot has improved as well as her confidence.”
Lincoln on Yarger: “Post player that has improved her outside shooting and will be able to score inside or outside. Has worked extremely hard this summer on her game and will be expected to play quality minutes on varsity this year.”
Lincoln on Hicks: “Multiple sport athlete that runs cross country and plays softball. Her aggressiveness will help us this year. Expect quality minutes from her this year.”
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Freshman Raylee Stenzel is expected to make an immediate varsity impact.
Lincoln on Stenzel: “Freshman that will receive major minutes on varsity this year. Very athletic. Will be one of the leading scorers and rebounders on the team this year.”
Junior C.J. Hines, sophomore Payton Harker and freshmen Landry Golden, Erika Penner and Eve Virtue will all compete for minutes this year as well.
“I am really looking forward to the season,” Lincoln said. “I felt that the team put in lots of hard work and everyone bought into the team this summer. The team learned how to play hard and we all worked very well together. I feel that we will get better as the year goes on. After Christmas I hope to be more competitive. Districts will be hard this year but we will be there to compete. Our goal this year is to lay a foundation and to have a successful program yearly.”
Mountain Grove opens the regular season on Nov. 23 at home against Fair Grove.
