MTSU camp helps Riverdale girls prepare for threepeat attempt
Cecil Joyce
It's just early summer, but Riverdale's quest for a Class AAA girls state basketball championship threepeat began this past week.
The Lady Warriors prepared for life after Anastasia Hayes when they attended MTSU's summer camp.
Riverdale, which will enter next season riding a 40-game winning streak, got to see a sample of what the 2017-18 lineup will be like during the camp.
"We did some positive things and had a good vibe," said Riverdale coach Randy Coffman, who won state titles in his first two seasons with the Lady Warriors. "Once you've had the success we've had, it's very hard not to be complacent. But I thought we had focus."
Not much has changed, with seven of the eight regulars back from last year's 34-0 season.
Of course that one loss is the graduation of Hayes, a Class AAA Miss Basketball, Gatorade Player of the Year and McDonald's All-American who is now at Tennessee.
"We've all been working together and pushing ourselves on the court," said Riverdale junior Aislynn Hayes, who will play the majority of point guard with her sister gone. "I know I have to step up. Annie played a big role."
RELATED
Even with Hayes gone, there will be talent aplenty on the court for the defending national champions (USA Today, MaxPreps), as showcased at the summer camp.
Senior Brinae Alexander, who recently committed to Vanderbilt, and seniors Alexis Whittington and Amanda Whittington (MTSU commitments) join Aislynn Hayes as returning starters.
"It's not that much different," said Alexander, who should have more of an outside presence in 2017-18. "I'm trying to use my guard skills more. That's where I'll play in college."
Sophomore Alasia Hayes, who was the first player off the bench for Coffman's squad, probably will step into the spot vacated by her older sister while Allison Mayeux and Jalyn Holcomb are also back.
Holcomb missed the camp with a thumb injury, but plenty of other younger Lady Warriors stepped up.
"There are a lot of talented kids on this team," Coffman said. "Obviously Amanda, Alexis and Brinae are stellar players for us. Aislynn really emerged last year. I feel like Alasia made some big strides at this camp, and Allison stepped up.
"I thought Hannah Edgeston had a good week; Katelyn Worley, Brylee Puckett and Kennedy Moore all looked good."
Coffman said he wants to see the Lady Warriors push the ball and run more, which is surprising given they've lost arguably the quickest player in program history. But Riverdale has the athletes to fulfill that goal.
"I feel like we have depth and we want to utilize that," Coffman said. "We want to play fast on both sides of the ball. Last year we played fast on offense. This year we want to press more and use our speed on defense."
There will be a great deal of pressure to win a third straight state title, but Riverdale didn't flinch at the pressure of last year's repeat.
"We just take it one step at a time," Alexander said. "When we get to (the postseason), the pressure will come more. We just have to stay focused."
Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.
