What does South Oldham need to do to improve in 2009/2010? What do they need to keep doing to be successful? Remember, please be constructive.

South was an extremely young team last year, and showed flashes of brilliance, particularly on defense.

 

No fewer than FIVE freshmen started or saw extensive playing time last season, led by the talented Jasmine Whitfield, a 5-9 freshman point guard who showed considerable defensive prowess and tremendous offensive potential while averaging over 10 ppg and about 4.7 rebounds.

 

Whitfield is one of the most athletically gifted girls' players in the 8th Region, and she'll be limited only by how hard she's willing to work. She has the size to play upfront, the speed to play guard, long arms that make her a nightmare defensively, speed, and leaping ability. Like many freshmen, she struggled at times with shot selection last year, but still finished as a 50% shooter from 2-point range, tops on the team.

 

She should be joined in the backcourt by senior Jordann McGuffin, who led the team in scoring (12 ppg) and was second in rebounding (5). Both players have range and can shoot the three.

 

Upfront, Vicki Bray returns, and - I would expect - will be joined by sophomore Mary Dye, a 5-10 sophomore who averaged 5 ppg / 5 reb off the bench last year. It'll be interesting to see who the other frontcourt player is, or whether Coach Frank Wright chooses to go with a three guard lineup. My hunch is 5-10 junior Brooke Haysley gets the nod at the other forward spot. Haysley was a sometimes-starter in 2008-9.

 

Three sophomore guards will give the Lady Dragons tremendous depth at that position, with Lissa Gamsky, Maddie Wright, and Emily Housley - all sophomores - coming back with a lot of experience from last year. Coach Wright played 10-11 players every game last year, and all got plenty of "quality" playing time. In the 8th Region semi-finals last year, 10 Lady Dragons had played by halftime...

 

Lexi Eldridge, a 5-10 junior, will give the frontcourt some size off the bench.

 

Last year's South team held opponents to just 42 ppg and 37.4% shooting. The Lady Dragons - who at times looked as young as they were, and other times looked eerily mature for their age - will most need to improve their shooting. South shot just 39.6% from the floor and 24.7% from beyond the arc. A perennially strong FT shooting team, they hit just 57% of their free throws last year. All three numbers must rise this year for the Lady Dragons to threaten SK in the region at SK.

 

Shooting did in the Lady Dragons last year in the region semis in a freakish night that saw them go 0 for 28 in the first half of a 52-28 semi-final loss to Anderson County.

 

Last year's South team held opponents to just 42 ppg and 37.4% shooting. The Lady Dragons - who at times looked as young as they were, and other times looked eerily mature for their age - will most need to improve their shooting. South shot just 39.6% from the floor and 24.7% from beyond the arc. A perennially strong FT shooting team, they hit just 57% of their free throws last year. All three numbers must rise this year for the Lady Dragons to threaten SK in the region at SK.

 

Shooting did in the Lady Dragons last year in the region semis in a freakish night that saw them go 0 for 28 in the first half of a 52-28 semi-final loss to Anderson County.

 

 

You hit the nail on the head here! Have to be able to put the ball in the hole. Starting positons are a long way from being determined though as the younger sophomore class is pushing everyone for playing time. It is fun to speculate, we all do it all the time on this blog, don't we. I would say Whitfield, McGuffin, Haylsey, and Dye - which leaves the 3 spot and that is a toss up right now IMO.

 

Some detailed observations as always ColonelMike- thanks.

I love the mix south has....seem like a great bunch of kids. Whitfield is a superstar in the making, and she has plenty of help around her. If South can make a few shots on the perimeter, they will be very difficult to beat in the 8th region.

 

at SK or not, I look for the Lady Dragons to be making the trip to Diddle at seasons end!