A sizeable chunk of the Lady Panther offense exited Jackson County when last school year ended.
The girls’ basketball lost four seniors off last year’s team to graduation, including two 1,000-point scorers — Ashley Skelton and Breana Drew.
“When you drop out 60 percent of your offense out of your team, yeah we’re definitely going to be looking for some other people to fill those spots,” second-year coach John Hawley said.
Jackson County will search for this year’s go-to players out of a group of six core Lady Panthers who either started or played key minutes on last year’s 14-12 team that missed the state playoffs.
That group includes guard Macey Latty, a returning starter; post player Danni Cunningham, a part-time starter last year; a now-healthy forward Victoria Fontana, who only played in eight games last year due to injury; guard Savannah Rocadori, who played key minutes last winter; post player Katie Phillips, a part-time starter, who provides “tremendous energy” Hawley said; and Mason Garland, a speedy guard who played some varsity minutes last year.
“I think all six of those kids are viable options for us,” Hawley said.
Other returning players are Victoria Woods and Katie Hayes. Kelcie Zimmer, a freshman, could also be counted on for big minutes.
Whoever emerges as the scoring threats this year, the team must be able to score in multiple ways this year. That includes moving without the ball, as well as getting second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass.
Hawley said this is a must.
“That’s one of our biggies this year,” Hawley said. “We’ve got to have more second opportunities. We’ve got to do a better job on the offensive glass. That was a real, real weakness that we had last year.”
Defensively, Hawley thinks this team will get better as the year progresses.
“I think we have good team speed,” Hawley said. “I think we’ll be able to use that to our advantage as the year goes on.”
Jackson County won’t ease into the season as it gets a very early start with its season opener Tuesday at home against Fannin County. That sooner-than-normal first game has made for a little different preseason camp.
“There’s a little sense of urgency on some of the team stuff, because we’ve got to get that stuff in,” Hawley said.
Of course, Jackson County — in reality — has until the start of subregion play to get itself settled. Those games start Dec. 9.
Region 8-AA South was largely competitive this year. This year, Hawley believes cross town rival Jefferson is the favorite in the subregion given the starters it has back.
North Oconee, Elbert, Hart County all had some key personnel losses. Meanwhile, Rabun County — with everybody back — is the overall region favorite.
How will Jackson County fit into that mix? Ask Hawley in a few weeks.
“Where we’re at now, and a month from now, we’re going to be a lot better basketball team and next month, we’ll be an even better basketball team. … It’s there for them,” Hawley said. “It’s just how well they mesh as a group and how hard they’re willing to work.”
