By KEVIN DONALDSON

 

CELINA-Rebounding, balanced scoring and the ability to score some quick, easy baskets will be among the keys for coach Sharon Kimes’ Lady Bulldog basketball team this season. 

 

The Lady Dawgs are looking to make a return trip to region play this year, having reached that mark in the post-season for the first time in three years last season, and return two full-time starters and three other prospective starters who saw a lot of playing time in 2008-09.

 

Seniors Kayla Kimes and Sarah Ogletree lead the list of returning letterwinners. Kimes was a second-team all-district selection last season, while Ogletree was honorable mention. They are expected to be joined in the starting lineup by a trio of former all-freshmen team members over the past two seasons–Rachel Burnette, Sydney Roach and Emma Ogletree. 

 

The Lady Bulldogs have been picked fourth in District 7-A in the coaches’ pre-season poll, behind Clarkrange, Jackson County and Pickett County. The district will have only five teams this season, with Monterey and the Lady Dawgs rounding out the squads. 

 

Kimes, in her second year at the helm, will be assisted by Krista Clinard this season and volunteer assistants Amanda Sharp and Tara Anderson. 

 

PHOTO ABOVE RIGHT

SENIORS-Second year CCHS girls coach Sharon Kimes, with seniors Kayla Kimes, Courtney Key and Sarah Ogletree.  

 

Lady ‘Dogs at a glance

 

Last season’s record: 20-11, 6-4 in district play (3rd). The Lady Dawgs advanced to region play, where they lost a close, first-round game to Gordonsville. 

 

Returning letterwinners: Sarah Ogletree (Sr.–G), 8 ppg, 3 reb, honorable mention all-district; Kayla Kimes (Sr.–PG), 5 ppg, 5 assists, 2nd team all-district; Rachel Burnette (Jr.-Post), 5 ppg, 3 reb; Sydney Roach (So.–G), 8 ppg, all-freshman; Emma Ogletree (So.-F), 4 reb, all-freshman.

 

Projected starting lineup: Ogletree, Kimes and Roach at guards, Ogletree and Burnette at forwards. 

 

Key reserves: Courtney Key (G), Allie Brown (F) and Karlie Watson (F).

 

Kimes on key players: Sarah Ogletree and Roach-“Have to shoot the ball well and help bring the ball down the court,” Kimes said. Kayla Kimes-“Must make good decisions passing and seeing the floor, and must score some.” Emma Ogletree-“Has a knee injury, but must play big this year.” Burnette and Brown-“Must play better defense and rebound.” Key-“Must make good decisions and shoot well.”

 

Keys to season: “We must be able to rebound the ball and make good decisions,” Kimes said, “and we must have everyone looking to score.”

 

What fans can expect to see: “We like to push the ball up the floor and try to score some easy baskets,” Kimes said. “We will also have a new offense, with lots of motion.”

 

Teams to beat in district: Defending state champ Clarkrange, who “returns two starters, Heady and Reid,” said Kimes; Jackson County, who “returns all five starters, Laken Leonard is the key to them,”; and Pickett County, who made a state tourney trip last season and “returns three starters with lots of experience.” (See related story about the District 7-A girls race).