EAST JACKSON’S Katie David is now reaping the benefits of being a second-year coach.
While last basketball season was marked with major transition, this year has been all about the stability and routine that comes with having a system in place.
“It wasn’t so much that we were putting in new plays and that was so complex,” David said. “It was a new way of thinking about how committed we were going to be … That seems so simple, but we don’t even have to battle those issues anymore. It makes everything more cohesive. It makes our time here more efficient.”
Things at East Jackson feel more settled despite the fact that the Lady Eagles lost their entire starting five from last year’s 8-18 team.
This young East Jackson squad, however, gets a major boost with the return of senior Taylor Patrick, who missed all of last season. The versatile Patrick, who can play either guard or forward, is the team’s clear-cut go to player and has accepted her role as a team leader. Offensively, Patrick — the team’s lone senior — attacks the basket well.
“We really think she could do good things this year for our team,” David said.
East Jackson is still sorting out its back court due to injuries but the Lady Eagles have three players who handle and shoot the ball well — junior Kesley Palette, who is the team’s most aggressive player; sophomore Madison Wuertley, a smooth ball handler; and sophomore point guard Kayla Thomas, who has a broken hand right now but is a threat to shoot when healthy. The point guard spot will be a by-committee position until one player establishes herself.
“It’s a delicate position,” David said.
Other guards being counted on are junior Sam Minish, a tall perimeter player who possesses a solid pull-up jumper, and freshman Taylor Beatty, who has a lot of potential and can shoot well.
The Lady Eagles’ roster has been bolstered by sophomore transfer Madison Mealor. Like Patrick, Mealor is a long player who is versatile and can play inside or outside. The squad’s most athletic player is sophomore Hydeia Rucker, “who has come into her own,” this year, David said. East Jackson’s only true post presence is junior Hannah Jackson, an improved player who has previous varsity experience and is expected to contribute off the bench.
Because of the lack of big bodies in the post, East Jackson will be at a size disadvantage, so the Lady Eagles’ scoring will have to come largely from outside the paint. But the good news for East Jackson is that the Lady Eagles are shooting the ball much better this year than last.
“Last year, we pounded the ball inside all of the time, all the time, all the time,” David said. “We’re not going to look like that inside. We don’t have that same set-up that we had last year.”
Overall, there’s a lot of leadership on this year’s squad despite the loss of five seniors, David said. This is also a team that appears to have strong chemistry. The Lady Eagles almost have a tendency to over-pass because they are so unselfish.
“And I feel like its only going to improve because they are so young,” David said of the team’s chemistry.
That’s not to say that there won’t be growing pains.
“I think that the consistency is going to be something that we’re aiming to get worked out by February,” David said. “And that just comes from experience.”
As far as the subregion in concerned, David knows her opposition a lot better now with a year under her belt. Still, play in 8-AA South — and throughout the region for that matter — will be rigorous.
“We view everyone as a threat,” David said. “I respect every coach. I generally think we have a strong region top to bottom, and I mean the other side, too.
David said this is a team learning how to become a family and maximize everyone’s talent. East Jackson’s goal last year was to win 10 games. This year’s goal – despite the wholesale losses due to graduation — is to surpass 10 wins.
“We don’t want to win 10 games,” David said. “We want to win over 10 games. We think it’s realistic but more than anything we want to be contending in the region tournament.”
