By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The 2023-2024 season was a bit of a learning curve for the Lebanon Lady Yellowjackets and their new head coach Brian Decker, according to Decker.
“There were a lot of bumps along the way, but I think we were better because of that,” said Decker, who enters his second year at the helm. “We found some success in a few of our tournaments, which got us some momentum. We had to battle through a series of injuries to some of our key players, which was difficult, but again, the adversity was met head on by our girls and they did not give up at any point.”
Decker says that determination should benefit the Lady Yellowjackets this season. Lebanon, which for years competed in the Ozark Conference, makes the move to the Central Ozark Conference in 2024-2025. The Lady Yellowjackets finished 8-19 overall and 2-8 in the OC last year.
“I expect us to play good team basketball this season,” Decker said. “We showed a lot of promise with that during the summer months and I am expecting that to carry over to the season. Our staff also expects a level of physical and mental toughness this season that we struggled with last year.
“The new conference will be a challenge, but not an excuse to not compete each night we get to play. We are looking forward to meeting that challenge head on in the coming months.”
Lebanon returns a great deal of depth to the roster this season with five seniors, two juniors and a sophomore.
Madison Myers, senior forward – Averaged 11.1 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game; named to the All-Ozark Conference Defensive Team. “Madison had a wonderful first full year on varsity last season,” Decker said. “She has become more of a vocal leader, which we have needed for a while. She provided a toughness and resiliency that we needed every night we played. Madison gives us a skilled post player who can be tough to guard inside and on the perimeter. She will be a mainstay in our lineup and someone we count on every night we play.”
Morgan Durbin, senior guard – Averaged 9.8 points and 2.1 rebounds. “Morgan is our top shooter from the perimeter. She has the ability to get really hot from 3 and we will need to count on those baskets each night. Morgan also brings a level of energy and excitement to each game she plays.”
Faith Coffman, senior guard – Averaged 2 points and 2.4 assists. “Faith was counted on to handle the ball for us most nights last season. I expect the same moving forward. She will need to be more of a scoring threat this year while also continuing to distribute the ball to her teammates at a high rate. Her defensive presence will also be counted on night in and night out.”
Kendall Bybee, senior guard – “Kendall provides us with guard depth. She got much more comfortable at the varsity level this summer, which has helped her at both ends of the floor. Kendall is a big-time hustler while on the floor. Her ability to use hustle plays to create energy for us will be key this season.”
Madilynn Hilton, senior forward – “Madilynn gives us post depth that we can count on to both score around the basket when needed and also guard tough post opponents. Madilynn has great hands and feet around the basket and will be tough once she puts it all together. Confidence will be key with Madilynn this season and our coaching staff knows she’s got it in herself to produce.”
Mackenzie Perryman, junior guard – Averaged 4.6 points, 2.4 rebounds. “Kenzie is one of the quickest players on our team. Her athletic abilities are off the charts as she can do a lot of things I haven’t seen many other girls be able to do. She will be counted on to be one of our primary ballhandlers while also contributing on the offensive end a bunch.”
Rayleigh Guccione, junior forward – “Ray is a very gifted and athletic post player who has touch around the basket but can also knock down shots in the mid-range. Her athleticism will be counted on to create tough matchups for our opponents this season. We look forward to her taking another step forward this year.”
Lilly Bradbury, sophomore guard/forward – Averaged 2.8 points, 1.6 rebounds. “Lilly is a special player who can both make very athletic plays around the basket and also shoot from the perimeter. Her athleticism is off the charts as well and she is someone that is going to be exciting to watch play for the next few years. She will be counted on to be one of our primary scorers this year while also providing us with quality defense. She has been asked to mature and develop at an accelerated speed, which will be beneficial for her down the road.”
Decker said he expects the Lady Yellowjackets to be tougher in all aspects and to play with energy, effort and enthusiasm.
“I think the biggest thing is that we have matured a lot over the last year,” Decker said. “I have an extremely coachable group of girls that I know will play hard for me each night.”
Decker also has a couple of sophomores who are coming off injuries but will provide depth at the guard position for the Lady Yellowjackets.
“Carsyn Henson is a skilled guard who can both handle it and shoot it well,” Decker said. “She battled through some significant injuries last season, but we look for her to provide us with guard depth at the varsity level this year.
“Mithila Massey is coming of an ankle injury that has had her out since the end of her eighth grade season. She is a tough competitor and a skilled guard. She will take some time to get back up to speed, but she has all the gifts to be a big impact player for us down the road.”
“I really like the connectedness that we established over the summer,” Decker said. “This group really plays well together and shares the basketball. Other teams will not be able to key solely on one player this season against us, which I feel is beneficial to us.”
Lebanon lost its leading scorer, Bodie Cox, to graduation, as well as Brooklynn O’Cain and Loran Mooney.
Bodie Cox, guard/forward – Averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 3.2 steals per game; earned All-Ozark Conference first-team and KJEL All-Star honors; currently playing at MidAmerica Nazarene. “Bodie provided so much for us from an offensive and defensive standpoint,” Decker said. “She was our main option when it came to our offense. She was great at creating shots for herself and usually always drew the other team’s best defender. Her length on the defensive end will also be missed as she was able to collect many deflections, steals, blocked shots and rebounds for us.”
Brooklynn O’Cain, guard – “Brooklynn was our main shutdown defender. She bought into this role early in the season and thrived in it. She is one of the toughest, hard-nosed kids a coach could ask for and someone we will miss. She led the team through action each day in practice and games.”
Loran Mooney, guard – “Loran was our starting point guard until her season-ending concussion in late January. She was such a high-IQ player who had played in many big games before transferring to Lebanon last season. She was great at creating shots for her teammates as well as knocking down shots herself. Loran was a very intense leader and really pushed her teammates to elevate their game. She was a true floor general for us.”
Lebanon will host a jamboree on Nov. 18 that will include Laquey and Willard before opening the regular season at Webb City on Nov. 25.
“Our new conference will be a bit of a challenge, as I’m sure most will expect,” Decker said. “Whether it is the level of competition or the travel, we will need to make sure that we are well prepared both physically and mentally each night we play.”
