The McClain Lady Tigers, reigning South Central Ohio League champions, will look to repeat in the 2015-2016 season with head coach Jared Haines.
The Lady Tigers are returning this season having lost three seniors from a 21-4 overall record last year and 12-2 in the SCOL. Shania Massie, McClain’s top scorer last year who reached the 1,000 point club last season, Sarah Thompson, and Sydney Barton.
“Obviosuly losing Shania looks like a big hit on paper,” said coach Haines. “But these younger kids have bide their time and are ready to step up. Last year we did a lot of standing and watching people create, now we are sharing the ball and any girl on the floor is an offensive threat.”
One of those players will also be one of the leaders of the team this season in Taylor Polley.
“Taylor is a natural born leader,” Haines said. “It doesn’t matter what she is doing. She is a big key! But we are relying on each other. We understand that to be good we have to play together.
“Also, Malea Montavon Averaged just under double digits in scoring last year as a sophomore. We have moved her out to the wing this season. Also Lexie Barton returns, we look for her to take on more of a scoring role as well. Others that we look for contribution from are Juniors Sara Bennett and Chantel Landrum and Freshmen Maddy Stegbauer. Sara gives us another outside threat and Chantel can give us minutes in the post. Maddy has improved drastically and has worked extremely hard to play at this level. She has some of the same tools as Polley.”
As for size, McClain girls will have three girls causing a problem for other teams down low. Beth Montgomery will be the biggest of that threat with Sophomore Mikenzie Coleman and freshman Makenzie Montavon adding to that mix.
Coach believes that the SCOL is very balanced this year but his team will have to play their best.
“I think the league is balanced,” said Haines. “We better bring our best every night if we have any chance of competing for a title. We just want to get better collectively as the year goes on and have a chance to make a great tournament run and be in the mix for a league title. At the end of the season we want to be the team that no one wants to play.”
The Lady Tigers are already off to a great start on the season, winning their season opener against Unioto 58-27. The McClain girls were led by Taylor Polley with 15 points, Bethany Montgomery with 11, Maddy Stegbauer had 10, Malea Montavon nine, Lexie Barton seven, Mikenzie Coleman four, and Makenzie Montavon with two.
Reach Robert Stegbauer at 937-393-3456 ext. 1679 or on Twitter @RStegbauer,
