By Chris Parker
Richland girls basketball will have a bit of a new look this year with a new head coach in Jon Hall taking over. He inherits a team coming off an 18-4 season that included a Class 2 state quarterfinal appearance.
Also gone is Frisco League Player of the Year Katelyn Cole. She averaged 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game on her way to all-state honors last year.
The good news for Hall and his Richland Lady Bears? The other four starters return.
That group is headlined by senior point guard Miranda Moss. She averaged 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3 assists per game on her way to Class 2 All-State honors last year.
Honorable mention all-conference selection Belle Hartley returns for her senior year after averaging 8.7 points and 8 rebounds per game.
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Classmates Allie Belshe, who averaged 6.2 ppg, and Abby Latham, who averaged 3.4 ppg, round out the returning starters.
“All four of my senior starters can be leaders because they have played in a district championship, sectional and quarterfinal games,” Hall said. “They know what it’s like to play in big moments.”
Richland has six seniors on the roster in total.
Lily Gibson (junior), Breah Morris (junior) and Jordan Payne (sophomore) also return for Richland.
The Lady Bears also have a large freshman class coming that could make an impact. They were 14-1 at the junior high level last year.
“We want to be able to compete for a conference, and district title again,” Hall said. “We will be a fast paced and in your face kind of team.”
Richland will host a jamboree on Nov. 18 with Hermann, Capital City and Eldon. The Lady Bears open the regular season on Nov. 22 at home against Belle.
