Haywood girls have turned season around

When the Haywood girls basketball team entered the 2016-17 season, there were high expectations put on the team by many after the run to the Class AA quarterfinals last year and the return of star player Jamirah Shutes.

But in reality, Haywood was a young team with little experience at three positions, including under the basket.

"We were young at a lot of positions coming into the season," Haywood coach Whitney Baird said. "We had two starters with experience. Our two posts are a junior and senior, but they didn't have a lot of playing time. We have made some adjustments, but we are starting to click and working better together."

While the Lady Tomcats did return Shutes and senior point guard Wandarkyu Young, that doesn't mean that the offense is going to work exactly like it did last year with those two doing a majority of the ball handling.

"Every year is different," Baird said. "Your offensive identity and defensive identity is going to look different. It has taken a little bit longer to find what is comfortable for us."

Replacing a post like Madison Smith from last year was going to take time, but Victoria Perry and Laquita Calloway have taken that challenge and settled in.

"Our post play has been a learning experience," Baird said. "Laquita was out all summer and preseason with an injury, and it wasn't until November that she could run. She is just now back in shape for us and not favoring her injury. She is more confident."

So there was going to be some learning through the early part of the schedule, and that is when Haywood started 2-7, including a six-game losing streak.

Those losses included two against an undefeated South Side team, one to a nationally-ranked White Station team and two to a Memphis Central team that is one of the best out of Memphis.

"Every game that we play is a learning experience," Baird said. "(Haywood boys basketball) Coach Kendall Dancy and I look to play the toughest schedule that we can play, and I think those games showed us where to improve."

But on Dec. 17, Haywood picked up a 41-point win over Fayette-Ware, and the Lady Tomcats haven't lost since.

They went and played some top-level competition in the Briarcrest Christmas Tournament. Haywood came away with the tournament championship as Shutes scored 108 points in four games.

That tournament was when Baird felt the season turned around for Haywood.

"It is always an intense atmosphere when we play at home with fans into the game," she said. "Going on the road to play those four games without a big home crowd allowed the younger players to settle in and not be intimidated. They just went out and played basketball. Everything clicked, and it showed that we can do this."

Haywood is also off of a 4-0 start in District 15-AA play, including a road win over a Covington team that is always tough to beat.

POW: Shutes led Haywood on win streak

"The last couple of years Covington and Haywood have battled for that top spot in the district," Baird said. "It is a rivalry game, and so one can not be playing as well and it still be tight. It is like Alabama and Auburn in football, as the game is always close.

"Our focus in practice was our offensive and defensive game plan, and we reminded them again and again to play our game. The girls did a great job being coachable."

Haywood has six district games remaining in the regular season along with a rematch against Fayette-Ware, and Baird said that the goal now is the same as it was at the start of the season and the same that it will be next year — getting to state.

"Once you get a taste of it, you want to get back there," she said. "As a coach, your ultimate goal every year is to get to state and win state. That is what we practice for and what we play for. If we continue to improve and buckle down, we have a shot."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.