By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
A new face will run the ship for the Fair Grove girls’ basketball team, and it’s a ship that could be considered a luxury liner.
Longtime area coach Gary Greene takes the helm for the defending Class 3 state champs.
“Being new to the program, it will take some time for everyone to get used to each other. However, this is a group with high standards, and they expect to be successful regardless of who is coaching,” Greene said. “I am excited to join these girls and pursue championships.”
Greene inherits a deep and experienced squad in his first season at Fair Grove.
The Lady Eagles boast one of the area’s best backcourts with the junior trio of Brooke Daniels, Camdyn Hart and Ashton Bell.
Daniels runs the show at point guard, where she averaged 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals per game last season. She earned first team all-state honors in Class 3 as a sophomore.
“She is our toughest competitor. Her will to do whatever it takes to win is unmatched,” Greene said.
Hart is a combo guard and has the size (5’9”) to cause matchup problems for other guards. She averaged six points and three rebounds per game last season and was honorable mention all-conference.
Bell is Fair Grove’s top returning scorer (13 ppg). She tallied 16 points in Fair Grove’s state title game victory and earned second team all-conference honors.
“Ashton is one of the better shooters in the area and a good defender,” Greene said.
CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO ALL OF THE WINTER PREVIEWS
Seniors Hannah Maxwell and Allison Findley are varsity veterans who bring defense and toughness to the squad.
Maxwell averaged about five points and five rebounds per game last season. Findley averaged four points per game.
“Hannah does all of the dirty work, like setting screens and getting loose balls,” Greene said. “She is a physical player who usually guards the other team’s best player.
“Allison is one of our hardest-working players and has played some big varsity minutes since she was a freshman.”
Juniors Abbey Green and Emma Padgett shined in reserve roles last season. Each played over 20 minutes in the state title game.
The 5’11” Green is one of Fair Grove’s best athletes. Padgett has good athleticism as well and gives Fair Grove another capable defender.
In the state title game last season, Padgett tallied seven points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals off the bench.
“Abbey is super athletic and very active defensively and on the boards. She’s improved her offensive game as well,” Greene said. “Emma is an athletic defender who gets her hands on errant passes. She’s also a good finisher at the rim on offense.”
Senior Taylor Green and junior Shea Skouby give Fair Grove even more depth.
Green is a left-handed guard who earned varsity playing time a year ago.
“She’s improved this offseason and is a good shooter,” Greene said.
Skouby (5’11) has the size and athleticism to make an impact around the basket.
“She is a very good rebounder and post defender and has shown the ability to score inside,” Greene said.
Greene comes to Fair Grove after a long stint at Mansfield. He has a career record of 387-227 over 22 seasons at Licking and Mansfield.
He replaces Jenny Talbert, who served as Fair Grove’s head coach for 13 seasons. Talbert became Nixa’s new head coach last July.
“Our team is battle-tested and highly competitive. My expectations are to help them take that to the next level, whatever that level may be,” Greene said.
Fair Grove made history last season, winning the school’s first state championship in any team sport. The Lady Eagles had a thrilling 54-52 win over El Dorado Springs in the Class 3 state title game and finished 28-4 overall.
Fair Grove had just one senior on that team, but she was a difference-maker. Post player Kameron Green led Fair Grove in scoring (16 ppg) and rebounding (7 rpg) while earning first team all-state honors.
“Kameron was a tremendous leader for our team,” Greene said.
Kameron Green is continuing her career at MidAmerica Nazarene (NAIA).
Fair Grove begins the regular season Nov. 21 at Fatima, followed by the Fair Grove Invitational Nov. 27 to Dec. 1.
The Lady Eagles will play in a jamboree at Marshfield on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Fair Grove’s non-conference schedule includes Miller (Dec. 5), Rock Bridge (Dec. 15) and a rematch of last year’s state title game against El Dorado Springs (Dec. 18).
The Lady Eagles also face a challenging slate in the Mid-Lakes Conference, which includes Strafford, Skyline, Clever and Forsyth.
“Our conference is extremely difficult and the schedule that our athletic director has built is very challenging,” Greene said. “We hope to be ready for the postseason. We will be a team that will show up and compete hard to win.”
