Conference: 3-2A
Coach: LouAnne Sanders, first year at school
Assistant coach: None
2012-2013 record: 5-20 overall, 2-14 in conference play
Returning starters: Sanders is no stranger to success. She has compiled an impressive record during her coaching career, including winning a conference title in 2011. But that was at Quitman. This year, Sanders will get her first taste of life in the 3-2A, a league filled with talent from top to bottom. The Lady Jaguars finished next to last in the conference a year ago and return only one regular, senior forward Callie Morris, 5-foot-10. Sanders, though, isn’t fretting over the situation. She embraces it. “We’re low in numbers, but we’re working hard and that’s the thing,” Sanders said. “It’s somewhat of a fresh start for the girls, but we’ve got some talent. We’ve just got to continue to improve.”
Best inside players: Morris is McCrory’s top post player, but she’s got some help, Sanders said. Junior forward Tori Hill, 5-9, may be the team’s most physical player. “She’s not afraid of contact, not afraid of getting physical,” she said. “She’s quick and a very good defensive player. She does a really good job on the boards as well.” Junior RaeAnne Cain, 5-7, and sophomore Dallas Thompson, 5-8, also figure in the mix inside. “Both of those girls have been working really hard,” Sanders said. “RaeAnne is very coachable, very quick. And Dallas is a sophomore, but she’s improving everyday.”
Best outside players: Sanders got a huge boost with the addition of senior guard Micaela West, 5-7. “She can really play,” Sanders said. “She can create things for others, but she can also take it to the hole. She’ll be the pacesetter for us, and we’ll lean on her quite a bit.” Senior guard Amanda Hays, 5-2, is a “very good shooter” according to Sanders, despite her stature; and sophomore Abby Dozier, 5-8, can play either the guard or forward spot on the perimeter. “She doesn’t have a lot of experience, but she’s developing well,” Sanders said of Dozier. “She’s quick, too, and works extremely, extremely hard.”
How will you match/exceed/fall short of your success from last year?: McCrory has to progress in every facet, on every night, in order to reach its potential. The Lady Jaguars play in what may be the toughest conference in Class 2A, but Sanders doesn’t want her team to back down from anyone. “We’ve got to compete,” she said. “Work hard and play every game like it’s our last. That’s what we definitely have to do consistently, give maximum effort.”
Team strengths: Heart is what Sanders is imploring her team to show in every game. To the first-year coach, that, more than anything, is their biggest plus. “[Heart] can take you a long way,” she said. “Give me heart over athleticism any day. And I think we’ve got a lot of it.”
Team weaknesses: McCrory didn’t experience many winning nights last season, and Sanders feels that could spell trouble for her team. “We don’t have a whole lot of experience back for us, and the confidence isn’t quite there just yet,” she said. “But it’ll come. It takes time, and we understand that. It’s a process.”
Games to watch: The Lady Jaguars’ season opener against league rival, Buffalo Island Central, on November 11 will show Sanders how far his team has progressed from preseason workouts. “We jump right into the fire,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll get a chance to scout [Buffalo Island Central] a few times beforehand, but we don’t waste any time jumping into the fray.”
Toughest opponent: Marmaduke was the Class 2A runner-up last season, and Sanders figures they’ll be just as good as they were last season. Buffalo Island Central, Marked Tree and East Poinsett County will also be a handful.
College prospects: West and Morris will provide a formidable punch, and that could translate into recruiters frequenting the campus.
In a nutshell: Sanders wants the Lady Jaguars to experience success, but her biggest desire is to see improvement from game to game. “If we get that, then I’ll be happy,” she said. “Naturally, I want us to win more than we lose, I want us to get to regionals, get to the state tournament. Really, I think we can finish at least the middle of the pack in conference considering how tough it is. But success is not necessarily measured by just wins. If we can improve each game, it’ll be a big plus for us as the year goes on.”