By Chris Parker
Sarcoxie girls basketball is looking to bounce back from a four-win season with a good core of players returning.
Katie Lopez is the lone returning all-conference player for Sarcoxie. She averaged 13.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game on her way to honorable mention all-conference honors last year.
“(Lopez) will be looked to lead this team on both ends of the floor,” said Sarcoxie head coach April Ellis. “She plays with a great amount of hustle and physicality. She will utilize these talents to get to the paint and score. We will rely on her to be an offensive leader.”
Brooke Sommer returns for her senior year after taking a year off.
Nikki Roth and Kaylan Anderson will be key players in the paint.
“Nikki Roth and Kaylan Anderson will be looked to take care and be a presence in our paint this year,” Ellis said. “We will look for them to solidify our inside play and be a force on both ends of the floor.”
Kaydence Flynn had a strong season last year but is poised for even bigger things this year.
“Kaydence was a great force last year,” Ellis said. “We hope for her to return and make bigger waves inside the paint this year on offense and defense. She has a great presence on the floor and as a senior we look for her to show her leadership abilities.”
Yuletsie Barrios (junior) and Laura Greenstreet (sophomore) also return for Sarcoxie.
“Yuletsie is a great duo with Katie when it comes to guard play. They both are very similar in size and physicality, and they do a great job getting to the board to score,” Ellis said. “Laura Greenstreet worked really hard over the summer and became a very solid presence on the floor. She was able to take control of our offense and distribute the ball well. We will look for that to transition into the season.”
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Ariel Wilson, Jordyn Misner, Breann Shumake, Laney Dorris and Heilene Lopez will be newcomers for the team.
Ellis on Wilson: “Ariel Wilson is an extremely talented player. She is explosive to the basket and scored a lot for us over the summer. Her defensive ability is second to none. Her quickness will make it difficult for any offensive player this year.”
Ellis on Misner: “Jordyn Misner is a great offensive threat. She has a great passion for basketball and her knowledge of the game is beyond her years. I look for Jordyn to be a great leader on the floor despite her age.”
Ellis on Shumake: “Breann Shumake is a great distributor of the basketball. Her quickness and ability to see the floor will make her difficult to defend.”
Ellis on Dorris: “Laney Dorris is one of the fastest players I have ever had the opportunity to coach. I look for her to control the tempo of our defense and push the hustle to a new level for our team.”
Ellis on Lopez: “Heilene Lopez is a very natural shooter. I look for her to come and score at will for us.”
The freshman group has also been impressive over the summer.
“Our freshmen have come in and brought a different tempo and feel to our program,” Ellis said. “They have caused all of our veterans to have a new level of competition each day. I believe we will see success and improvement each day.”
Sarcoxie will be a fast but young team this season.
“We will be extremely quick. We look to play a very fast game of basketball,” Ellis said. “We are a very young team. In order for us to find success we need to compete each day in practice and play situational basketball day in and day out. Game experience will help us find the most success.”
Sarcoxie opens the season on Nov. 18 at home against New Covenant.
