By Chris Parker
Wheatland has high expectations with an experienced group returning from last season’s 19-win team.
“Our biggest strength this year will be our experience,” Wheatland head coach Jeremiah Bryan. “We will be returning our top eight players from last year’s team.”
Last year’s team was stout defensively allowing just 37.4 points per game. Bryan wants to see more on offense this season.
“I feel like last year’s squad played some of the best defense in the conference,” Bryan said. “However, we struggled to score on a consistent basis. Our main focus this year is going to be on being more consistent at scoring and running offense more efficiently.
Among the eight returning players are three seniors in Chloe Pearson, Taylor Gant and Jaz’Myn Baldwin.
Pearson, a first-team all-conference selection, scored 18.1 points per game with 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals.
Baldwin scored 6 points per game with 5.5 rebounds. Gant contributed 3.5 points per game with 2.1 rebounds.
Kiarah Blation is the team’s lone junior. She was second-team all-conference averaging almost a double-double with 9.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
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The sophomore class is four deep with Jayce Dampier, Charley Crouch, Alyssa Roberts and Macy Pearson.
Kate Murphy, Shelby Shaddox, Jayla Wilkerson and Elisa Johnson comprise a four-player freshman class that will try to contribute.
Wheatland opens the season on Nov. 20 at Climax Springs with a singular focus.
“This year’s team is going to have one simple goal: win districts,” Bryan said.
