By Chris Parker
Clay Lasater takes over as the head coach of the Lockwood girls basketball program this season. The team returns five starters from last season’s five-win team.
Lockwood has five seniors returning led by Adrien Neill, Grace Wilson, Kelsey Daniel, Gatlyn Clausen and Hannah Steeley.
Lasater on Neill: “Adrien has been an all-conference performer for us in the past. I look for Adrien to be a great leader and do what is asked from night to night to help our team win.”
Lasater on Wilson: “Grace is a quick kid who I look to develop into a scoring threat off of the dribble and help create opportunities for teammates.”
Lasater on Daniel: “Kelsey is an athletic kid who we help to increase touches to in the paint. I look for Kelsey to have an increased scoring role this winter.”
Lasater on Clausen: “Gatlyn had a great summer and really stepped up as a team leader this year. I am excited to see what she can do during her senior year.”
Lasater on Steeley: “Hannah really bought into her role in the post this summer and worked really hard on the fundamentals of that position. She had a great showing at team camp this summer and will be fun to watch.”
Neill led the group in scoring last season at 9.7 points per game with five rebounds. Daniel and Clausen were right together averaging 7.1 and 7 points per game, respectively. Steeley is the top returning rebounder with 5.6 per game along with 4.3 points per game. Wilson led the returning players with 1.9 assists per game.
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Sophomore Natalie Wilson will also be a key contributor.
“Natalie has the ability to be a great defender for us,” Lasater said. “If she will work really hard every day and embrace the role of a lock down defender, she would be a menace for opposing teams.”
Amaleiya Cerrone (junior), Shay Gray (senior), Kallie Griffin (freshman), Payton Wilson (senior), Jessie Thieman (freshman), Gracyn Clausen (freshman), Kimora Roll (sophomore) and Audrey Parker (freshman) are newcomers to watch.
Lasater on Cerrone: “Coming out this year after not playing a year ago. She is a smart athletic kid who could be a great defender for us this winter.”
Lasater on Gray: “Shae is a very mentally and physically tough player. Shae is back after not playing basketball last season and will help add depth at the guard position.”
Lasater on Griffin: “Kallie is an incoming freshman who did a lot of good things for the middle school team last fall. Kallie is a kid who could develop as a key perimeter shooter for us.”
Lasater on Wilson: “Payton is back for her senior season after not playing her junior year. Payton is a hard worker who will add depth at guard and hopefully be a disciplined defender for us.”
Lasater on Thieman: “Freshman who had a great summer and will add depth to the post position.”
Lasater on Clausen: “Gracyn missed the summer with a broken foot, but we look forward to getting Gracyn into the mix this winter.”
Lasater on Rolla: “Kimora is a newcomer to the program and will exciting to have her be a part of the program.”
Lasater on Parker: “Audrey had a really solid eighth grade year of basketball. Audrey is a really hard-working kid who will give you everything she has every time she steps on the floor.”
Lockwood opens the regular season Nov. 27 through Dec. 2 at the Diamond Tournament.
“This is a new role for me and one that I am excited to take on,” Lasater said. “Coach Neill really did a lot of great things helping develop basketball fundamentals with this group the last two years. I look forward to working with her and seeing how we can continue to help this great group of kids continue to grow and improve. I really enjoyed the time I spent with these girls this summer working on basketball development. We have a great group of girls who are a lot of fun to be around every day. They are great kids in the classroom and in the community. I look forward to creating memories with this team as we work each day to improve and compete.”
