By Chris Parker
Galena girls basketball returns three starters from last season’s 14-12 team.
Chaley Plottner (senior) and Averi Foster (junior) will be team captains.
Plottner averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season.
“Chaley is a very versatile player that plays 1-5,” Galena head coach Kenna Greenway said. “She guards well and can shoot the ball at a high percentage. We expect her to further improve her offensive production from last year and to help mature our younger kids in the program as our senior leader.”
Foster, a second-team all-conference and all-district selection, averaged 12.3 pointsa dn 6.1 rebounds per game.
“Averi is a very skilled point guard that is usually also tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best offensive player,” Greenway said. “She distributes the ball well to get her teammates going and is crafty enough to create her own shot. She will be looked upon to step into an even bigger leadership role this season as an upperclassman.”
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Baylee Stacy (junior), Melanie Rice (sophomore) and Taylyn Mackey (senior) also return for Galena.
Junior Justice Stiles along with freshmen Baylie Foster, Jaiona Bailey, Maddy Bilyeu, Chloe Bressie and Briana Carr are newcomers who will look to make a varsity impact.
“We have a very athletic group that will look to get out and run offensively and challenge other teams defensively with our speed and length,” Greenway said. “We have a little deeper bench this year that will allow us to keep legs fresh and play at our tempo throughout the course of a game. We are in a tough conference, but I see us competing with anybody if we can mentally stay locked in and show up ready to play every night.”
Galena opens the season on Nov. 17 at Niangua.
