By Chris Parker
Damon Asbill takes over as head coach of the Reeds Spring girls basketball program this season. He has been an assistant in the Reeds Spring boys program for 13 years.
“This is an incredible team,” Asbill said. “I have been a fan of them for years.”
Reeds Spring will look to improve on last season’s eight-win season with a young, but experienced team returning.
“We are young with no seniors, but we have eight players who have valuable varsity experience,” Asbill said. “We are hoping to build off a good second half of the year.”
The returning players include Allie Johnson, Saylor Johnson, Kylie Fitzwater, Emmarae Thomas, Illyssa Finney-Allen, Kourtney Stice, Britney Nordin and Grace Johnson.
Asbill on Allie Johnson: “Our junior class has three great leaders. Allie Johnson is a versatile player. With her size and speed, she will be hard to guard on the perimeter or inside. We are looking for Allie to take on the role of a scorer this year.”
Asbill on Saylor Johnson: “Saylor Johnson was a freshman point guard last year. With this valuable experience, she has become a confident general on the floor. She led the team in assists. She will be the one who sets the tone for the offense.”
Asbill on Fitzwater: “Kylie Fitzwater led the team in scoring last year. She is a strong player with a great motor. She shows incredible balance on both offense and defense.”
Asbill on Thomas: “Emmarae Thompson averaged seven rebounds a game. She is also strong defender in the paint. She has the ability to impose her will on the floor.”
Asbill on Finney-Allen: “Illyssa Finney-Allen is a lock down defender. Her time on varsity steadily increased as the year progressed because of her growth. We will be asking her be a force on defense and a threat on offense.”
Asbill on Stice: “Kourtney Stice has a natural vision of where to be on the basketball floor. We are looking forward to her development this year.”
Asbill on Nordin: “Each day and each practice Britney Nordin is becoming real threat. On offense she finds herself in good position with or without the ball.”
Asbill on Grace Johnson: “Grace Johnson was the leader on the JV last year. She is an aggressive guard who will be an integral part of the varsity this year.”
Trinity Clevenger and Alyea Jensen will be two newcomers to watch this season.
“Trinity is a promising guard who has shown range in the pre-season,” Asbill said. “Alyea is an athletic freshman who has a shown real promise.”
Reeds Spring opens the season Nov. 22 at home against Green Forest (Ark.).
“(We want to) start strong and finish strong,” Asbill said. “We need to have a complete season and be competitive in every game.”
