STARKVILLE — Everybody involved with the Starkville High School girls basketball team knows last year was a struggle.
The Lady Jackets will try to change their ways in a new classification and region by relying on three senior leaders and several talented sophomores who will see significant playing time.
“That was last year and our young ladies understand that,” Starkville coach Kristie Williams said. “We’ve already seen significant progress in practice.”
Williams will feature an all senior starting backcourt with Brittany Brown and Jacqueline Fair. They will be a big part of what the Lady Jackets do defensively in their full-court pressure.
“I’m very excited about the leadership we have on this team this year,” Williams said.
Starkville also welcomes 6-foot-3 transfer Tiffany Henderson, a sophomore center, from Colorado Springs, Colo. Williams said Henderson’s athleticism and length will be a welcome boost to a frontcourt that needs depth.
The Townsel cousins, sophomores Sheneka and Janay, will provide guard depth to a lineup Williams said is going to be feature more scoring punch earlier in the season.
“It’s no secret my main thing is toughness and defense, but I think teams are going to have to be prepared to guard us early,” Williams said.
Starkville opened its season Saturday against West Point in the Green
Wave’s tournament. Williams said she and her team are aware Class 5A is a powerhouse classification, but she feels playing against Tupelo and Columbus for years has given the program enough experience in big games.
“We understand this is a challenge, but unlike last year I think my team understands how I want to play and what it takes to win close games,” Williams said.
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