Conference: 3A 5
Coach: Chris Mungle (five years at Fountain Lake, 16 years overall)
Assistant coach: Kenny Shelton
Last year’s record: 16-10 (tied for second in conference)
Returning starters: Senior Whitney Ellison (5-8), last year’s leading scorer averaging 15 points per game, returns at guard/forward, along with second leading scorer Katie Lampo (5-11), who started last year as a sophomore averaging 12 points per game and leading the team in rebounds with 8 per game. Also returning are senior point guard Kaylee Cragg (5-3) and senior shooting guard Hannah Godwin (5-5).
Best inside players: In addition to Lampo returning at post, Taylor Jeffress (5-7), is an extremely athletic junior. “I’m really expecting her to have a breakout year and do a lot of good things for us scoring, rebounding, hustle plays,” Mungle said.
Best outside players: Samantha Livingston (5-6), another athletic junior, “is a defensive specialist. Her motor runs 100 mph all the time. She’s going to be able to do a lot of things for us defensively, be able to run the floor,” Mungle said. “She and Taylor are our two most athletic kids. … They didn’t play a lot last year, but I’m expecting big things out of both of them this year.”
How will you match/exceed/fall short of last year’s success?
“We’re trying to win the conference and get into postseason play. We came a long way last year, developing a mentality of expecting to win every time we walk out on the floor,” the coach said. “This year we already have that mentality, and I really think we can take it to the next level. We lost some close games last year that I think we can win this year.”
Strengths of the team: Mungle pointed to experience as a big strength, learning how to play to win instead of playing not to lose. Additionally, he said, “we’ve got a great group of kids, very unselfish, kids not worried about the spotlight or who’s scoring or anything like that. They’re a very unselfish team.”
Weaknesses of the team: The ability to handle pressure will likely be key, Mungle said. The Lady Corbas are a team that can play at any tempo, but they need to be in the driver’s seat, the coach said, and not have the pace dictated by the other team. “We’ve really got to be able to control tempo, handle pressure and keep the game at our speed.”
Games to watch: With “no ifs, ands or buts” to it, the big game is Jessieville, if not because of close ties between the two communities, then because of the history. “It’s been a rivalry for 50 years,” Mungle said.
Toughest opponent: Jessieville, again. “They’re the best team in our conference, have been for years, and will be until somebody proves they’re not. You’ve gotta be able to beat them if you wanna take it to the next level. We’ve closed the gap in the last few years, but we still haven’t gotten over the hump.”
College prospects: Ellison has the potential to play college ball, Mungle said, “but I don’t know if that’s something she really wants to do. When you go play at that level, it’s not really a game anymore; it’s more like a job. But I think she’ll have the opportunity if she has a good year this year, if she chooses to pursue that.”
In a nutshell: Every year, the seniors design a team shirt, complete with motto. This year’s slogan is “Right here, right now,” Mungle said. “That’s what they picked, so I’d say that’s our motto.” It’s the embodiment of a team with confidence, a team on the upswing that is very much looking forward to what they can accomplish this year. “This is the team we’ve been building for five years.”