By Chris Parker
Dadeville girls basketball is coming off a four-win season.
Junior Claire Mitchell will be a team leader according to head coach Curtis McGill.
“Claire will be the one who leads our team this year,” McGill said. “She is a very talented player who can play inside and can also play outside, as she is a very good shooter and ball handler. When she plays well, we all play well.”
Emma Sayers returns at forward. Addison Orr and Addyson Buck are a pair of sophomores who are good shooting guards.
Eden Black is the lone senior who returns after not playing the past two seasons.
“Eden has always played really good defense and has always been able to get those loose balls on the floor,” McGill said.
Junior Katelyn Chisum is playing basketball for the first time.
“(Chisum is) new to basketball but is an outstanding athlete that is going to provide us speed and good defense as well,” McGill said. “She won numerous awards as a cross country runner and made second-team in conference in softball this year her first ever playing softball. That’s how good an athlete she is; super excited to see how far she comes this year.”
A trio of freshmen will make an impact including Katelyn Holman, Charleigh Toler and Claire McGee.
McGill on Holman: “She will give us some size and height inside we need to score and control the boards.”
McGill on Toler: “Charleigh Toler is a good hard-nosed player that will do all the little things need to win. She plays outstanding defense and is a good shooting guard. She is a good competitor.”
McGill on McGee: “Claire McGee will be our point guard this year. She was our defensive player of the year last year as an eighth grader and ran the offense for us very well. We are very excited to see what she can do at the high school level this year.”
Dadeville opens the season on Nov. 22 at home against Sheldon.
“Biggest strength for us this year will be our speed,” McGill said. “We have a lot of girls who are quick and that play good defense. We hope to be able to get out in transition and run. I think we will surprise a lot of our teams we play this year with how far we have come from last year with the addition of the newcomers and with having Claire Mitchell back healthy to start the season. I really believe we will make some noise before the season is over and be a solid team.”
