GIRLS BASKETBALL

BBALL: Huntingdon looking to contend for title

Michael Odom
michodom@jacksonsun.com

When looking at the top teams in District 13-A, the Huntingdon boys and girls are considered contenders for the title.

Both teams finished second in the district during the regular season, and both hope to be right back in that position in Feburary.

“At the end of the year, if it is a tight race again, it will be good for us,” Huntingdon boys coach Jonathan Kee said. “Dresden and McKenzie are the popular picks this year.”

Fillies coach Farris Lowery feels the same about the girls’ side.

“Gleason seems to be more experienced than the other two,” he said about the top trio of Dresden, Huntingdon and Gleason. “Hopefully, we will be able to compete and be there at the end.”

Taylor Smith returns to run the point after a breakout sophomore season, and Jesica Keith is back in the post after being named the district MVP last year.

“I think Taylor has gotten a lot better and worked hard over the summer,” Lowery said. “Jesica has also worked hard, and we are looking for her to have a big senior year.”

Look for players like seniors LeAnn Webb and Cheyenne Childress to also be key contributors this year.

Lowery believes that his team is deeper than it has been, and that should help down the stretch.

“We can play nine to 10 deep, so we are going to have a more uptempo offense,” he said. “We put it in a little this summer, but we will work on it more this fall and in the early part of the season. We have quickness in our younger players.

There is no question about two starters for the Mustangs with seniors Dylan Johnson and Keeton Bailey.

“Johnson and Bailey are starters, but it is up in the air for the other three,” Kee said. “From the freshmen to the seniors, our season will depnd on the pieces that we put around those two.”

Huntingdon won’t have much height, so Kee is hoping that this team will play more uptempo.

“We will be a smaller team, but we will play faster,” he said. “We are inconsistent in it right now. We lost a great deal of shooting. We are going to have to be in excellent shape and make sure that we are in position to play fast. If we don’t give 100 percent on all plays, we will be exposed.”

The Mustangs might go through some growing pains early, but the hope is that this team will be ready for the district schedule and the tournament.

“We have guys that don’t have any experience that will have to understand their role,” Kee said. “We have to develop depth. Guys off of the bench are going to have to step up.”

Michael Odom, 425-9754

Huntingdon Mustangs

Last year’s record/finish: 19-10 (10-2)/2nd in District 13-A

2 key returners: Keeton Bailey (G); Dylan Johnson (G)

2 key series: McKenzie (Jan. 13 on road; Feb. 7 at home); Dresden (Jan. 6 at home; Jan. 31 on road)

Huntingdon Fillies

Last year’s record/finish: 21-5 (12-2)/2nd in District 13-A

2 key returners: Jesica Keith (F); Taylor Smith (G)

2 key series: Dresden (Jan. 6 at home; Jan. 31 on road); Gleason (Dec. 9 on road; Jan. 20 at home)