By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Chadwick Lady Cardinals enter the 2024-2025 season with an experienced roster, and a new, yet experienced leader on the sideline.
Veteran coach Jim Pendergrass takes the reins of a squad that has a great deal of postseason experience, to which he is no stranger. Pendergrass, who has a 332-105 overall record in 15 years, has coached at Crane, Walnut Grove and Kickapoo. During his 12 years at Kickapoo, he led the Lady Chiefs to the Class 5 Championship in 2016, two second-place finishes (2018 and 2022), and a third-place finish in 2021.
He is excited about leading the Lady Cardinals, who finished 20-7 overall, 5-0 in the Mark Twain Conference last season, and won their fourth-straight district championship with wins over Couch (52-23) in the semifinals and South Iron (51-41) in the finals. Chadwick’s season ended with a 60-55 loss to Delta in the Class 1 sectionals, after finishing as Class 1 state runner-up in 2022-2023. The Lady Cardinals won the Class 1 title in 2005, finished third in 2014, 2004 and 2002, and fourth in 2013.
“We played a lot this summer and it was great getting to know the girls and watch them develop,” Pendergrass said of his new squad. “Our players, this year, have an opportunity to step into new roles. This team’s ability to grow from the beginning of the season to the end of the season is incredible.
“The more this group plays together the better they will get. We have a good mix of returners with experience and returners/newcomers who will have an opportunity to make major contributions.”
Chadwick will be led this season by seniors Raeleigh Little and Millie Burkhart, as well as junior Ella Herd and a strong sophomore class.
Raeleigh Little, 5-foot-7 senior guard – Averaged 14.2 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, 3 steals per game, 27 games played; earned Class 1 All-State first-team, Class 1 All-District 2 and All-Mark Twain Conference first-team honors; has started since her freshman year. Pendergrass describes Little as “athletic and quick.”
Millie Burkhart, 5-9 senior post – Averaged 5 ppg, 3 rpg, .4 apg, 2.7 spg, made 57 of 110 field goals for 52 percent, 26 games played. “Good rebounder.”
Ella Herd, 5-5 junior 3-4 player – Averaged 4.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.6 spg; 27 games played. “Good rebounder and defender; has toughness.”
Emily Landry, 5-6 sophomore – Averaged 4.7 ppg, 1 rpg, .6 apg, 1.4 spg, 24 games played. “Athletic and quick; has ability to get to the basket and shoot the 3.”
Macey Landry, 5-6 sophomore – Averaged 3.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .9 apg, 1 spg, 22 games played. “Athletic and quick; good driver.”
Mylea Bertoldie, 5-5 sophomore – Averaged 2.5 ppg, .8 rpg, .6 apg, .4 spg, 12 games played; 3-point shooter.
Maddy Sallee, 5-11 sophomore – Averaged 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, .3 apg, .5 spg, 11 games played. “Good size and rebounder.”
Kaylee Garrison, 5-11 sophomore – Averaged .9 ppg, .9 rpg, .2 apg, .3 spg, 10 games played.
Sophomore Elly Dunn will also look for minutes.
Pendergrass says that 5-8 freshman, Lydia Combs, could contribute to the team’s success this season.
But the Lady Cardinals will need to fill the void left by all-state, all-district and all-conference guard Kerrigan Guerin, who transferred to Link Academy, as well as Lexi Loveland, who graduated last spring.
Loveland earned All-Mark Twain Conference second-team honors last season for the Lady Cardinals, who averaged 52 points per game and held opponents to 32.6 ppg. In addition, Chadwick made 109 3-pointers to its opponents’ 85, had 14.5 steals vs. 5.4, and just 10.6 turnovers per game to its opponents’ 23 per game.
“Keys to our success will be how well we rebound, defend, and take care of the basketball,” Pendergrass said. “The challenge this season will be that we will have players stepping into new and expanded roles. This group works well together and I’m looking forward to coaching them.”
Chadwick will participate in a jamboree at Nixa on Nov. 20 before opening the regular season at home against Richland on Nov. 25 and Miller on Dec. 12.
