GIRLS BASKETBALL

HOOPS: Chester girls want to compete for title

Michael Odom
michodom@jacksonsun.com

Last season, the Chester County girls basketball team took state semifinalist Westview to overtime in the region semifinals.

The goal this year is for the Eaglettes to get back to that level.

“I feel like we have a lot of young talent that can contribute, especially defensively,” Chester County girls coach Lee Pipkin said. “We have a better post regiment, who have experience and is a lot deeper.

“We are going to miss Margie Coleman, and her outside shooting, but we have girls working to develop their outside shot.”

Senior Paige Pipkin has been a player that has shown she can do about anything on the court. As a junior, she averaged 21.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.5 assists. But this year, Lee Pipkin doesn’t feel like her daughter will have to do everything.

“We have talent around Paige that can help,” Lee Pipkin said. “Amya Boyle is one we have been pushing to play the point. She worked on it over the summer, and we told her that the ball can’t go through Paige every time.”

Lee Pipkin feels her post game is also developed more with senior Savannah Naylor and sophomore Sydney Wilson.

“Naylor improved over the summer, and Wilson could be the key for us,” she said.

But District 14-AA is always tough, so the Eaglettes will have to be ready to play every night.

“We always push to have a tough defense,” Lee Pipkin said. “We will be playing some younger girls who haven’t played before. This summer we played vanilla, but when it comes down to it, I feel like we can play mutliple defenses because we have kids that are smart.”

The Chester County boys are under a new head coach in former Freed-Hardeman University men’s coach Jason Shelton, and the hope is that he can build the program into more of a contender within District 14-AA in the next couple of years.

“Our goal is to daily improve and build upon each day,” Shelton said.

The Eagles suffered through a three-win season last year, but the hope is even with a new coach, they can begin the building process with some success.

“Anytime there is a coaching change, it is difficult for the kids to learn the new,” Shelton said. “It is not my philosophy, but when you do things one way for so many years, and then go to something different, it is difficult.”

Chester County will look to three key seniors – Grant Burns, Ben Brown and Caleb Johnson – to be the leaders.

“They are tremendous kids and great kids to be around,” Shelton said. “They can lead. I am just ready to start practice. I am not used to starting practice Oct. 31 and playing two weeks later.”

Shelton’s philosophy is simple if Chester County is going to pick up wins in his first season.

“We have to play hard, play smart and play together,” he said.

Michael Odom, 425-9754

Chester County Eagles

Last year’s record/finish: 3 -22 (0-10)/6th in District 14-AA

2 key returners: Grant Burns (G); Ben Brown (G)

2 key series: Lexington (Jan. 20 on road; Feb. 7 at home); Bolivar (Jan. 13 at home; Jan. 31 on road)

Chester County Eaglettes

Last year’s record/finish: 20-12 (8-2)/2nd in District 14-AA

2 key returners: Paige Pipkin (G); Amya Boyle (G)

2 key series: South Side (Jan. 17 on road; Feb. 3 at home); Lexington (Jan. 20 on road; Feb. 7 at home)