New beginning for CCHS girls

CCHS Lionettes- Samantha Gaither, Maleah Scott, Hannah Haley, Lindsey Bowman, Maggie Cook, Allie St. John, Tori Knox, Olivia Walkup, Erika Taylor, Katie Gunter, Ashlyn Nokes, Taylor Meeks, Jessie Kauffman, Kristen Fann, Anna Grace Sissom, Madison Gather, Caroline Blanton, Madison Blanton, Abby Maynard.

By DAVID HUNTER

It is a new beginning for the CCHS Lionette basketball team as they prepare for the start of preseason practice on Oct. 31.

Last season, was one to forget as they finished 10-20 on the season under first year head coach Jonathan Odom. The offseason gave them a chance to work on chemistry something both the returning players and Odom admitted was one of the many reasons the Lionettes struggled last season.

"We are really excited," Junior Post Maleah Scott said. "I feel like we play more as a team and together this year, so it should be an exciting year."

Sophomore point guard Tori Knox added, "I think this team has a lot of chemistry together and we play fast, and we really click this year."

There were other reasons, too why the Lionettes had a tough season last year, including injuries to key players, and learning a new system under Odom. However, the players and coaches have decided to turn the page and start fresh this season.

As for the team, they have a lot of exciting freshman coming in to blend in with the still young but experienced returnees from last season. Gone are state tournament experienced players like Autumn King and Kelli Davis, while the Lionettes bring back All-District star Maleah Scott, point guard Tori Knox and Hannah Haley along with a host of other key players, including the only senior this season Samantha Gaither.

However, there is a fresh crop of talented freshman coming in, who last year was battling each other for their respective Cannon County Grammar School teams, while also teammates in other sports. Now, they will make the transition to being full time teammates on the high school level to go along with the returning Lionette players. Both the players are coaches are excited about well the Lionettes have blended together as one unit.

"I think this year we are a whole lot more pumped up, because I think we are stronger as a team this year, Gaither said. "We are all really close, and a lot of us are really skilled. We have a lot of skilled freshman this year. We could be a lot better this year."

During the offseason and summer workouts, Odom played around with his lineup mixing in experienced youth along with the newcomers to go along with developing the chemistry all around the team.

"During the summer, we worked mostly on playing together and getting use to each other," Scott said. "During conditioning, we got faster and closer not only as a team but also individuals."

Once again, the Lionettes will face very tough competition in the district, which is one of the best in Class AA in the state. So, the team knows they must be ready every night to reach their goal of making it to the Region tournament and possibly beyond.

"Last year, we kind of played down to our competition, and we did not bring forth our best effort," Scott said. "This year, I feel we need to come ready every game, be focused and have a positive attitude."

Knox added, "I think we got to bring our A game and play tough every single game, and we need to work on communication, leadership. We need leaders this year, play together and execute plays unlike last year, we did not execute."

Gaither added, "If we don't go out there thinking this team is so difficult, where there is no way we can win against them. I think if we just go out there thinking we got this, we are better this year and stronger this year we can do this. So, let's just go out there and give it our all. We can win this game.

Last season was tough in many ways for the Lionettes, especially when the losses kept piling up, and key players were going down with injuries. However, Odom wanted the players to learn lessons from each loss, and now the Lionettes have decided to start fresh and put last season in the rearview mirror.

"Last year, it was Coach Odom's first year, and we had to get used to each other first," Scott said. "This time we have grown more as a family, and I feel like we have each other's back. That will help us in the long run.

Knox added, "I think putting last year behind us, we got newer players who are eager to play and ready to play and they want to play. They work hard and all of us are ready to put last year behind us and grow. We are getting along this year, and we all work together to make sure we are a family."

The season tips off on Nov. 15 at the Coffee County Hall of Fame.