By Chris Parker
Exeter girls basketball has a new head coach in Chase Bradfield this season. He takes over a program that was winless last year and has won just five games over the past three seasons.
Bradfield will be looking to institute a culture change.
“After several losing seasons in a row, the team just needs a culture and mindset change,” Bradfield said. “They need to start believing in themselves and in the team as a whole.”
He expects sophomore Trinity Atkinson and senior Kara Myddleton to be team leaders this year.
Atkinson will look to expand her scoring (1.8 ppg) and rebounding (1.5 rpg) this year.
“Trinity is a leader by her actions,” Bradfield said. “She has attended most summer training and workouts to improve her skills. She had a goal in the off-season to perform 10,000 shot attempts to help improve her shooting game. She leads by her example. She is also a high-character athlete, devoted to FCA, and always seeks to put Jesus first in everything she does.”
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Myddelton averaged 0.5 points and 1 rebound per game as a junior.
“Like Trinity, Kara also leads by example,” Bradfield said. “She has a high-caliber work ethic.”
Dawnee Sorenson will be the team’s tallest player in the post in her sophomore season. She averaged 3.7 points and 7 rebounds per game.
“Dawnee is our tallest and strongest player on the team,” Bradfield said. “She is not only capable of converting high-percentage shots and gathering rebounds, but she is also able to make a good amount of three-point shots as well. She has the ability to become the most dominating player on our team.”
Freshmen Shea Hilburn and Gracie McCracken-Arnold will look to make immediate varsity impacts.
“Shea is an all-around skilled basketball player that will certainly be a catalyst for taking this year’s team to new heights. She has a high basketball IQ,” Bradfield said. “As an incoming freshman, Gracie is developing a reputation as a lockdown defender, capable of thwarting opposing offenses and is determined to be the team steals leader this year.”
Exeter opens the season on Nov. 21 at home against Thomas Jefferson.
“The biggest strength of the team this year is the never-give-up mentality and relentless in their effort,” Bradfield said. “No matter what the scoreboard says, they will always keep fighting.”
