Girls BKB Preview: Rangerettes return four starters

Four starters and the team's first player off the bench return this season as the nucleus for the Benton High School Rangerettes.

The team lost just one senior, point guard and leading scorer Eb Casey, to graduation.

Addisyn Miller, a 5-7 sophomore, will take over the point guard duties this season.

"She's the best pure shooter we have. She's been a little bit behind, starting practice last Wednesday after a cross country injury," said coach Andy Sloan.

Mady Wallace, a 5-3 senior, will join Miller in the backcourt. Wallace plays with a lot of energy and emotion.

Senior Ember Milby (5-10) and juniors Macie Cockrum (5-8) and Zoe Carlton (5-6) are expected to round out the lineup. All five of those players saw extensive varsity action for the Rangerettes last season during a 15-15 campaign.

"We're all undersized. Milby is our biggest kid and she can play all five spots, which is good for us," Sloan said. "Hopefully, she won't have to play all five. She's the smartest kid on the floor so she knows every position pretty well.

"Zoe will probably come out a little bit and face up as opposed to having her back to the basket because she is probably a little better facing up. She can come out and shoot a little bit."

Senior Lacey Jerkins (5-7) is returning to the team after a two-year absence.

"She'll give us some energy off the bench," Sloan said.

Sophomore Cailyn Fowles (5-3) is another guard that will give the Rangerettes speed and quickness in the backcourt.

If Milby gets into foul trouble, Sloan can turn to 5-10 sophomore Sesley Tedeschi, who got some playing time last year as a freshman.

"She's another player who is smart and long and can do a lot of different things," Sloan said.

Remaining reserves who are expected to see action include: freshmen Jacey Eubanks and Chloe Hill; and junior Katy Johnson.

Sloan said he's hoping defense will be one of the team's strengths, reasoning, "Right now, we're not real good offensively. I hope we can guard people. We're quicker this year. These freshmen and Jerkins can get out and guard people and put some pressure on the ball. We're going to have to clamp down and stop people because I think we're going to have a hard time outscoring them."

Sloan feels good about the depth of his team, something missing from last year's squad.

"Last year, we didn't really have a bench at all. I feel pretty confident with most of these kids that we can bring off the bench. I think our depth will be a strength for us," Sloan said.

Sloan said Harrisburg and Massac County are the teams to beat in the Ohio Division of the River to River Conference.

Following its season opener at Gallatin County on Monday, the Rangerettes will play in the Nashville Tourney next week.

"Our pool is Mt. Vernon, Mascoutah and Nashville so it's going to be tough. With as young as we are, it would be nice to get off to a good start and sitting at .500 after Thanksgiving would be a good goal," Sloan said.