By Chris Parker
Marionville girls basketball has improved its win total in three consecutive seasons. The Lady Comets went 20-7 last season.
Two all-conference players in Dally Pomeroy and Lanie Stokes return this season.
Pomeroy was named second-team all-conference as a freshman. She averaged 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 steals and a team-high 3.3 assists per game.
“Dally’s greatest asset is her work ethic. It is 100% effort all the time. Her defensive skills allow Dally to get big steals and boards. Dally led the team in assists last year making her a crucial part of our offense,” Marionville head coach Casey Young said. “This year Dally’s role will extend from primarily a defensive threat into being a menace on both ends of the court. We expect for her scoring responsibilities and opportunities to multiply. She will also grow into an expanded leadership role.”
Classmate Lanie Stokes was named honorable mention all-conference last season. She was second on the team in scoring at 10.2 points per game. She also had 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and a team-high 3.1 steals per game.
“Lanie is a true athlete. Her varsity success stems from endless hours of training outside of the school season. Lanie has a great basketball IQ which allows her to play strategically, this aids her overall success as a varsity point guard,” Young said. “We have already seen strides of improvement in her ball handling and outside shooting. She has all the fundamentals required to be successful. We now hope to see Lanie continue to develop her soft skills, like communication, to make her the most effective team leader she can be.”
Avery Eden (sophomore), Maggie Murphy (senior), Lincoln Mais (sophomore) and Anna Bright (senior) also return.
Eden saw action in 22 varsity games last season scoring 2.6 points per game.
“Avery Eden is wicked fast,” Young said. “She is a quick twitched athletic kid that I expect to do great things this year. She is like a sponge and soaks up everything that you say and wants to do her job to the best of her ability. I expect Avery to give us big minutes this year and be successful on both ends of the floor.”
Murphy led the team in rebounding at 6.1 per game with 5.9 points per game on offense.
“Mags stepped in and became a starter midseason her freshman year,” Young said. “As a freshman, Maggie led the team in rebounds as well as intensity. She has given this program three great years and I don’t expect any less of her senior year. Maggie’s athleticism makes her
the all-around athlete that can play anywhere on the floor. Mags has dedicated herself to the weightroom and that will help her become the asset on the floor we need her to be again this year. I am excited to see her experience and IQ on the floor this year.”
Mais will have an expanded role this season after seeing limited varsity action as a freshman.
“Lincoln Mais is a player who strives to be her very best each time she steps on the floor,” Young said. “As a freshman, Lincoln had limited minutes but will be looked at for key minutes this year. Lincoln is strong. She likes to work for rebounds and play defense. She is selfless on the floor and will do whatever it takes for her team to be successful. Her speed, strength and IQ will be an asset for our team.”
Bright is the team’s third-leading returning scorer. She averaged 8.5 points per game with 3.4 rebounds.
“Anna Bright has turned into an asset for this program,” Young said. “Anna has been a part of this program for three years, this being her fourth. Anna has dedicated herself to being strong in the weight room and improving herself as a player. Anna is a great teammate. She is willing to put herself aside and always do what is best for her team. She is always working on her game to improve. Anna Bright has worked to improve her shot and her ball skills. She will be a difference maker this year.”
Freshmen Rylie Fletcher and Avigail Bellah will be newcomers to watch.
Young on Fletcher: “Rylie comes in very raw and willing to play any spot on the floor. She is super athletic; she is working in the gym a lot. She has made it known that she is here to make an impact. Her IQ on the floor continues to increase as well as her confidence. She wants to be on the floor making an impact for her team, sky is the limit for this freshman, and she continues to grow mentally and physically.”
Young on Bellah: “Avi is very athletic. I am always very impressed with how coachable Avi is. She is quick and gritty which plays right into her defensive wheelhouse. I expect her to make an impact early defensively, and I think that confidence she develops will help her be successful on the other end of the floor.”
A pair of transfers in sophomore Cheyanna Collins (Montt) and freshman Elle Moeller (Scotland) also will be on the team.
“The commitment this team has to each other is one of our biggest strengths,” Young said. “Basketball is hard, that is why we are losing so many basketball athletes across our sport. These girls choose to come out and play for each other. They are committed to each other and the growth and success of the program. They are unselfish, they are honest, and they are loyal. When you go into battle you want someone that will stand toe to toe with you and these girls are confident that they have that in each one of their teammates and coaches. This year marks a pivotal transition for our team as we embark on a new chapter without Lucy (Newberry) on the court for the first time in four years. I expect our sophomore guards to assume vital leadership roles, utilizing their experience from last season’s varsity competition. Maggie and Anna will play key roles in steering the team with their experience. While we may not have significant size, I am confident that our speed and athleticism will serve as our strengths, enabling us to compete effectively on the court. We are tough and gritty, with all the girls fully committed to strength training. Under Coach Waggoners’ guidance, they have become stronger physically and developed a passion for the weight room, which will greatly benefit us in rebounding and finishing through contact.”
Marionville opens the season Dec. 2-7 at the Blue Eye Invitational.
“We are always looking to improve our record but as we change our schedule to help improve our program that isn’t necessarily a good barometer of success,” Young said. “We are young. I am looking for some of our youth to mature on the floor and be comfortable and confident by district time. We have to change some things up due to personnel and that will happen with time. I look to get better every day we step on the floor.”
