Lady Cougars Prepare for Upcoming Basketball Season
Piedmont Academy’s varsity girls basketball team has a new season on the horizon and has been preparing for the 2018-2019 campaign in recent days under the direction of coach Michael Wilson.
The Lady Cougars open the regular season against Brentwood on the road Monday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. in Sandersville.
“I’m looking forward to this year,” Wilson said. “Last season when I came back we only had eight on the roster and now we are coming off the program’s first winning season in six years and only graduated one player. We have four starters returning, all with at least two years starting experience. Our entire bench is back and is as experienced as the starters.”
Additionally, the Lady Cougars have gained three new players, two of which have previous basketball experience.
“What excites me the most is that all 11 could start for us,” the coach said.
“I’ve never had such depth and competition for jobs. I told them my goal is to have five on the court and everyone on the bench mad at me they aren’t playing. I want them to make my job difficult this year. The program is in great shape and with some good fortune and staying healthy we could have a very good year and play for a region championship.”
The team will be led by six seniors and Wilson said that leadership should pay off for the team.
“Having six seniors on the roster is a great luxury especially considering we’ve only graduated seven in my time with the girls,” the coach said.
“They provide leadership and I can already see the difference even from last year in how we interact and how we practice. I think our outside shooting will need to be respected more by other teams. We have multiple threats who can make the three’s consistently. If we can keep the defense honest and force them to come out and challenge us or play us in a man-to-man defense I think we will have the ability to spread the floor and attack the basket by creating good match-ups for us where we utilize our screen and roll game. We have stressed taking care of the basketball and cutting down on our turnovers in order to be successful this year.”
Madison McCart and Lucy Tuggle have been with the varsity since the eighth grade.
“Our team will go as far as they can lead us,” Wilson said. “I’ve challenged both of them to become better rebounders this year. Losing Alexis’ 10 rebounds a game could be a factor if nobody steps up but so far they’ve worked hard in that area. Lucy looks like she is moving at 100 percent this year, she looks quicker and back to being the Lucy we saw in the ninth grade. I’m excited for her to have a great senior year on both end of the court.
“The coach said McCart is only scratching the surface of being the player she can be.
“Last year she averaged double digits in scoring and rebounding and three assists, blocks and steals a game,” Wilson said. “She does so many things so well that people don’t often notice how valuable she is to us, even when she isn’t scoring. We can be successful if she doesn’t score, we can’t be successful if she forsakes spreading the ball around, rebounding and her ability to block and alter other players’ shots.
McCart and Tuggle will be key leaders for the Lady Cougars this season and will look to guide the program to a successful regular season and postseason appearance.
“I tell all the seniors, but especially Madison and Lucy, how they practice and work together trickles down through the whole team,” their coach said.
“Both players have the potential to average a double-double for the season. It won’t be easy and it will take hard work every day but I believe it can happen. They’ve never let me down; I trust them and believe in their ability on and off the court. The importance both of them have to our team in practice is going to be pivotal this year. Girls look to them and how they are practicing and emulate. It’s a big responsibility but it is one they can handle.”
Gracie Hunt and Deacon Robinson have both improved each year on the court. They understand their roles but have never been happy with coming off the bench, according to their coach.
“They want to start and have gotten better each year,” Wilson said.
“Deacon really understands the game and has a chance to play some important minutes for us defensively and her offense is going to surprise some folks. Her shooting is a weapon we will use. Gracie is our best 3-pt threat. I want her to have confidence in her shot and ready have the mindset that she is a good shooter and for her to be aggressive and stretch the defense.”
The return of Hailey Hooper and Mattie Johnston should benefit the team.
“I’m really excited to have Hailey and Mattie back playing basketball,”
Wilson said. “Hailey can do it all on the court. She can play any position, she has the ability to beat defenders off the dribble and finish and when her outside shot is hitting she is as dangerous as anyone we will see this year.”
Likewise Johnston adds many positive elements for the Lady Cougars.
“Mattie brings a toughness I think we have been lacking,” Wilson said. “She is a great passer who sees the court really well and she very rarely misses an open teammate. They came in and picked right back up like they didn’t take any time off. We are fortunate to have them back on the team.”
Junior Madison Johnson is joining the program this season and her potential is very high.
“She’s never played organized basketball but once she understands the game and its nuances she might become an all-state level player,” her coach said. “She is an amazing athlete. She’s fast, strong and aggressive and we haven’t had all those combinations in a player in a few years and I look forward to her strengthening our post play and progressing to becoming an important part of playing rotation.”
The team’s sophomore group of Haley Ann Frank, Sydney Stroud and Jayden Young will likely have more experience as a whole than any other group of tenth graders in the state. All three have been on varsity since their eighth grade year and with that comes a certain maturity beyond their age, their coach noted.
“They are super quick and aggressive defenders and they create a lot of turnovers and transition opportunities and this year I’m expecting the same,” Wilson said. “They flip games for us. We wouldn’t be nearly as dynamic on defense without them. They all have worked on their basketball handling and shooting and just by the nature of that work and them getting a year older I think a lot of our turnover issues will take care of themselves.”
In addition, the Lady Cougars have a strong freshman group of players which also lends to the coach’s confidence about the upcoming season.
“Hannah Tyler and Maddie Waddleton played with the varsity last year and offer us quality depth at the guard and post position,” Wilson said. “ I have very little hesitation in putting them in situations this year that are pivotal in its outcome.”
Mallory Kelly, Raleigh Loftin and Fleming Sealy are new to the varsity program but had very good middle school years.
“I think the opportunity for them to play in junior varsity games, get some valuable minutes in varsity games and spend the season practicing and learning will help fulfill the potential each has,” Wilson said.
Eighth grader Haiden Crews will split time with the varsity and the middle school. Crews, along with Waddleton, offer the team a chance to have two great post players over the next three years.
The Piedmont middle school and junior varsity girls will also compete at Brentwood on Monday beginning at 4 p.m.
“These seniors have been with me since they were in eighth grade and they’ve grown up so much on and off the court,” Wilson said. “We’ve really developed the ability to understand each other and work through our differences in a positive way. For the younger girls to see our relationship and how we work together is invaluable. The seniors have a chance to leave a legacy that will help us continue building a successful program. I remember telling Madison and Lucy when they were in eighth grade that when they are seniors that everybody that doubts us now will be with us celebrating accomplishments not many girls’ teams at Piedmont have had the chance to celebrate. They are now seniors and ready to celebrate.”