Girls Prep Basketball Previews: Du Quoin Expects Improvement
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Despite the return of just one full-time starter-the 2009-2010 Du Quoin High School Girls Basketball team is an experienced group.
The Lady Indians welcome back nine letter winners, all who received significant playing time during last season's 1-22 campaign.
Third-year coach Shawn File expects much improvement from this year's squad, which opens against Steeleville at 8:30 Tuesday night in the third game of the 7th Annual Lady Indians Tip-Off Classic.
"We are looking to take a huge jump from last year's final record," File said. "Many of our games last year and over the summer were very close losses. We believe we can turn those close losses into wins this year."
File lost three key players-Micah Ward, Cadey Hess and Cashmiere Bledsoe to graduation-and lost a fourth due to injury,
Defensive ace Michaela Brown (5'5, so.) started several games as a freshman but tore her ACL during a summer basketball camp and is lost for the season.
Also an important member of the volleyball and softball squads, Brown can return to competition in early spring.
"That's a tough loss for us," admitted File. "She was one of our returning starters."
Jessica Hirsch (5'6, so.) was the leading scorer for Du Quoin as a freshman, earning all-conference honors in the River-to-River Conference's Mississippi Division.
Keawna Anders (5'7, so.) started on a part-time basis and returns to play inside for the Lady Indians.
File looks for Anders to again provide much-needed rebounding and defensive help.
Megi Jones (5'7, so.), Heather Cavins (5'9, jr.), Curry Emling (5'6, jr.), Megan Edwards (5'6, so.), Ashley Ward (5'6, jr.) and junior guard Stefanie Gates (5'5) are also experienced.
"Gates adds the ability to help handle the ball and hit the open jump shot," File said.
"We will count on Cavins to rebound and play solid defense. Megi Jones did a great job defensively over the summer. Curry Emling provides leadership and is very consistent. Ashley Ward is a good shooter from that 15-to-17 foot range. Edwards has the ability to score for us."
Top newcomers include Rebekah Maddox (6'0) and Cassidy Rice (5'7).
Seniors Kelsey Smith (5'5) and LaKeisha Johnson (5'3) have also returned to the program and will be counted on for defensive help.
"Rebekah will add legitimate size at the post position and is a good scorer and rebunder. Cassidy Rice has show tons of potential."
There are 20 players in the program, including seven freshmen.
Tomi Hamlin (5'3, so.), Shelby Presley (5'9, so.), Jessica Martin (5'5, fr.), Nicole Jackson (5'4, fr.), Taylor King (5'7, fr.), Jordan George (5'11, fr.) and Yoana Romero (5'2, fr.).
"We are still a very young team," said File. "But we have the talent and potential to compete with the teams on our schedule."
The Lady Indians and Du Quoin Jaycees are again teaming up to host the 7th Annual Tip-Off Classic season-opening tournament next week.
The round-robin affair again includes Johnston City, Murphysboro and Chester.
Two newcomers (Elverado and Steeleville) have joined the field as each squad will play five times
In addition to home-and-home games in the rugged Mississippi Division of the SIRR against Nashville, Anna-Jonesboro, Sparta, Pinckneyville and Chester, the Lady Indians tackle several non-SIRR foes. Harrisburg, Century, Herrin, Z-R-C, Trico and Benton are part of the grind.
The Lady Indians will again play just the one tournament this winter.
File's joined on the coaching staff by Jason James (junior varsity) and Nick Brown (frosh).
Dr. Gary Kelly and Holly Bigham are volunteer assistant coaches.