Conference: 3A-4
Coach: Craig Pinion (year at school: 11th; first with the girls team)
Assistant coach: Tracey Brown
2010-11 record: 1-11 in conference play
Returning starters: Marisa Rodgers (5-8 junior); Mary Thompson (5-9 junior); Erica Ford (5-6 junior)
Best inside players: Hayden Martin (5-10 senior); Makayla Harris (5-11 sophomore). Martin returns after missing last year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Best outside players: Rodgers, the junior, is the team’s best 3-point shooter, Pinion said. Ford is “aggressive and a good slasher.”
How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year? As Atkins’ boys coach for the last 10 seasons, Pinion has been familiar with the Lady Red Devils. “I believe we will be much more competitive than we have been over the past few years,” he said. “The kids are buying into what we are teaching and are learning how to work. We have nowhere to go but up.” Atkins won just one game last season.
Strengths of the team: Pinion said his new team is hungry for success. The Lady Devils are also tough. “I believe we will be a decent defensive team by the time conference play starts,” Pinion said.
Weaknesses of the team: The Lady Red Devils lack a consistent scorer.
Games to watch: With the lack of success in recent years, Pinion knows that a successful start to the season is crucial. “I believe it is important for us to gain some confidence in the early games, so I would say they are the games to watch,” he said.
Toughest opponent: Charleston reached the Class 3A State Tournament from the 3A-4 last year. Several league coaches said they expected the Lady Tigers to be formidable again.
College prospects: None
In a nutshell: After 10 years coaching the Red Devils, Pinion, who worked under the ultra-successful women’s coach Joe Foley when he was at Arkansas Tech, said he was ready for a change to the Lady Devils. “When the opportunity came to move within the district, I jumped at the chance,” he said. “The girls are hungry for success. They have worked extremely hard, and they have a lot of faith in me. This move has rejuvenated me and given me the chance to change some of things that couldn’t have been changed as easily with the boys. Being able to have the majority of the girls on a year-round basis will allow us to develop the total player. We hope this will eventually lead to a strong basketball program.”