By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The West Plains Lady Zizzers head into the 2022-2023 season as the reigning Class 5 champions and do so having lost just one senior from the Class of 2022.
That player? Class 5 Player of the Year, Ashton Judd.
Judd, now playing at Mizzou, averaged 26 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in leading the Lady Zizzers to the second state championship in program history (50-37 over Whitfield), after finishing as runners-up to Whitfield in 2021. Judd also earned All-Ozark Conference Co-Player of the Year and Class 5 District 5 Player of the Year honors.
“I think many people feel that we are going to drop off after losing Ashton, but I feel we have the chance to be very competitive this season,” said West Plains head coach Scott Womack. “This group is very confident in their abilities and really improved throughout the summer.”
And Womack is back after leading West Plains to a 27-4 overall record and 9-1 in the Ozark Conference, which included a co-championship. Womack, who enters his 32nd season as the Lady Zizzers’ head coach, retired in April after 35 years in education. But with the teacher shortage, he decided in August to return as an emergency teacher – and as the Lady Zizzers’ head coach.
“With the number of girls coming back, it was not a difficult decision to come back and coach for another year,” said Womack, who is just eight wins away from 600 for his career and was named Class 5 and district Coach of the Year and OC Co-Coach of the Year this past season.
A few key returnees for the state champions include Allyssa Joyner, Zoey Williams and Olivia Lawson.
• Allyssa Joyner, a 6-foot, junior forward. Averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds in earning MBCA Class 5 All-State, All-District and first-team All-Ozark Conference honors. “An athletic big girl who can score anywhere on the floor,” Womack stated. “She will be asked to do more on the offensive end this year.”
• Zoey Williams, 5-7, senior guard. Averaged 5 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists a game; a first-team all-district and all-conference honorable mention selection. “Can play any position for us and bring toughness to the court on both ends. One of our better perimeter shooters.”
• Olivia Lawson, 5-8, junior guard. Averaged 6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists; named all-conference honorable mention. “Really developed last season and will have to continue that trend this year. Very athletic and can score in bunches.”
Other returnees Womack will be counting on include:
• Kayla Dixon, 5-6, senior guard. Averaged 6 points a game, 37 3-pointers made.
• Mary Claire Gohn, 5-6, senior guard. “Good perimeter shooter.”
• Madi Hughston, 5-8 junior forward. “Gives us some physical play inside.”
• Hannah Judd, 5-7, senior forward. “Hard worker who had great summer and will contribute on both ends of the floor for us this year.”
• Emily Dawson, 5-9, junior forward. “Has the potential to be really good; can score inside and outside.”
• Drew Harris, 5-8, senior forward. “A two-year starter who tore her ACL last season, will be back.”
“I think the experience this team has gained from playing in the last two championship games is definitely a strength,” Womack said. “We have nine returning letterwinners who have played in some very big games the last two years. They believe that they can win any time they step on the floor. I think we will be strong defensively again this season.”
Womack said that after losing Harris early last season, his team learned to overcome adversity, which resulted in a Nixa Invitational Tournament title, a runner-up finish in the White Division of the Pink and White Lady Classic and a run to the state championship.
Heading into this season, Womack said the Lady Zizzers had good summer workouts, as they worked to start fitting into their new roles.
West Plains will participate in a jamboree on Nov. 15 at Doniphan before opening the regular season at Willow Springs on Nov. 21.
“Losing a 26-point scorer and 11 rebounds a game is going to be tough to replace,” Womack said, regarding the graduation of Ashton Judd. “We will have to try and overcome this through a team effort.
“We still believe we will be very competitive this season in both conference and district. We will always come out and play hard and let our defense carry us.”
