While the temperature outside steadily falls, the Lady Tiger basketball team hopes to raise the heat on the court.
With the start of the basketball season less than a week away, Commerce seeks to improve from last year’s 6-17 record. Coach Eddie McCurley said that the Lady Tigers are putting the past behind them and throwing last year out the door.
“I hope we don’t have another year like that,” said McCurley. “Our starters are coming off of knee injuries from last year. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we can keep everyone healthy. We do not want to go through the same thing we went through last year with the injuries.”
Jessie Flint looks for a pass during the scrimmage game. Photo by Justin Poole
Lady Tigers Healthy And Ready To Begin 2009-10 Season
In an effort to minimize the injuries, McCurley said the team has spent more time in the weight room preparing for this season.
“We are optimistic because we have most of our scoring and rebounding returning, and that is always a good thing,” McCurley said, adding, “plus, the starters have been in my program for three years now. Will that transfer into wins? I am not sure yet, but we are optimistic.”
Commerce has four returning starters. Of those four, three are seniors
McCurley and the Lady Tigers are once again expecting big things from Jaz Grier.
“Jaz is going to be a key player for us. She is a junior and is 5’11” and will end up playing all five positions before we are done,” said McCurley. He also noted that Grier has looked strong in practice. She was one of several Commerce players forced off the court by knee injuries last year.
The other starters are seniors Jessie Flint, Brittany Beauchamp and Logan Brown. Both Beauchamp and Flint are returning from knee injuries as well.
According to McCurley, Beauchamp will start as the post.
“Brittany will rebound well for us and she can score,” he said.
Flint has been a strong three-point shooter in the past, but McCurley will expand her role this year.
“Jessie is a good outside shooter, but she has really improved taking the ball to the hole,” he said. “Brittany and Jessie are two of our best leaders, and we are going to need some leadership with so many young players backing them up.”
Another change will be Logan Brown moving to the wing position.
“Logan will be moved to wing where we want to try and use her speed and athleticism to get the ball down the court on the fast break.”
The Lady Tigers’ starting point guard position is up for grabs, and McCurley is looking at sophomore Drea Mathis to fill the spot.
“Drea is a little more seasoned than some of the other young players and if she can handle that position, we will start her as the point guard,” said McCurley. “If we feel that Drea is not ready, we will start senior Jordon Lord inside.”
Lord also injured a knee late last season.
“She is back out there and has been practicing and looks fine,” McCurley said.
While the top six are lined up to play, McCurley will still face the issue of bench strength.
“Our first six are going to play a lot of minutes,” said McCurley. “Depth is going to be an issue for us. We are looking at freshman and sophomores for back-up.”
Sophomores Allie Morgan and Erica Greene are expected to fill in and according to McCurley, both girls are ready to meet the challenge.
“Both played some last year and are expected to step in and give us some good minutes,” he said.
“Our whole schedule has gotten tougher than in the past, hopefully we have gotten better, if we haven’t we are going to struggle,” McCurley said, adding that inside of the region, there is a lot of parity.
To the end of testing to see where Commerce stood, the Lady Tigers hosted Hart County in a closed scrimmage last week. McCurley said he picked Hart County to scrimmage because he wanted someone tough to see where the girls stood.
Commerce begins the season next Tuesday at Johnson. Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m.
Following the Johnson game, on Thursday, Dec. 4, the ladies host long-standing rival Jefferson at 7:00 p.m.
“We start out with Johnson and they are a larger school,” McCurley said. “I am sure it will be a tough test. Second game of the year, we have Jefferson and Jefferson has been good every year we have played them.”
“We are optimistic because we have most of our scoring and rebounding returning, and that is always a good thing,” McCurley said, adding, “plus, the starters have been in my program for three years now. Will that transfer into wins? I am not sure yet, but we are optimistic.”
Commerce has four returning starters. Of those four, three are seniors
McCurley and the Lady Tigers are once again expecting big things from Jaz Grier.
“Jaz is going to be a key player for us. She is a junior and is 5’11” and will end up playing all five positions before we are done,” said McCurley. He also noted that Grier has looked strong in practice. She was one of several Commerce players forced off the court by knee injuries last year.
The other starters are seniors Jessie Flint, Brittany Beauchamp and Logan Brown. Both Beauchamp and Flint are returning from knee injuries as well.
According to McCurley, Beauchamp will start as the post.
“Brittany will rebound well for us and she can score,” he said.
Flint has been a strong three-point shooter in the past, but McCurley will expand her role this year.
“Jessie is a good outside shooter, but she has really improved taking the ball to the hole,” he said. “Brittany and Jessie are two of our best leaders, and we are going to need some leadership with so many young players backing them up.”
Another change will be Logan Brown moving to the wing position.
“Logan will be moved to wing where we want to try and use her speed and athleticism to get the ball down the court on the fast break.”
The Lady Tigers’ starting point guard position is up for grabs, and McCurley is looking at sophomore Drea Mathis to fill the spot.
“Drea is a little more seasoned than some of the other young players and if she can handle that position, we will start her as the point guard,” said McCurley. “If we feel that Drea is not ready, we will start senior Jordon Lord inside.”
Lord also injured a knee late last season.
“She is back out there and has been practicing and looks fine,” McCurley said.
While the top six are lined up to play, McCurley will still face the issue of bench strength.
“Our first six are going to play a lot of minutes,” said McCurley. “Depth is going to be an issue for us. We are looking at freshman and sophomores for back-up.”
Sophomores Allie Morgan and Erica Greene are expected to fill in and according to McCurley, both girls are ready to meet the challenge.
“Both played some last year and are expected to step in and give us some good minutes,” he said.
“Our whole schedule has gotten tougher than in the past, hopefully we have gotten better, if we haven’t we are going to struggle,” McCurley said, adding that inside of the region, there is a lot of parity.
To the end of testing to see where Commerce stood, the Lady Tigers hosted Hart County in a closed scrimmage last week. McCurley said he picked Hart County to scrimmage because he wanted someone tough to see where the girls stood.
Commerce begins the season next Tuesday at Johnson. Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m.
Following the Johnson game, on Thursday, Dec. 4, the ladies host long-standing rival Jefferson at 7:00 p.m.
“We start out with Johnson and they are a larger school,” McCurley said. “I am sure it will be a tough test. Second game of the year, we have Jefferson and Jefferson has been good every year we have played them.”
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