There is no shortage of heroes on this Southern Boone girls basketball team.
There are the two top scorers, Kylie Shoot and Skyler Beeson, both of whom would gladly give up an open shot in order to get an assist.
There is the team’s point guard, usually the smallest player on the floor, but her coach says Faryn Griffin has ice water in her veins and is an extension of his coaching from the bench.
Then there is the rebounder. Emma Anderson doesn’t score a lot, but she crashes the boards with a muscled vengeance that few players in the girls game can match.
The selflessness, work ethic and pure athleticism propelled the Eagles girls to a second straight district title, past Cardinal Ritter in the Sectionals and into the Final Four last spring.
This year’s goal?
One big step further.
“The goal is to win a state title,” said coach Tony Phillips.
And why not?
The Eagles return the core of the team which made their Final Four run in a 29-3 season and they have worked hard over the summer to improve.
The group of nine seniors has won two district titles, last year’s initial Tri-County Conference Tournament and were nearly unstoppable, finding a way to win close games all season.
“This group of girls is special because they don’t worry about who gets the winning shot or the most points – they just find a way to win,” said Phillips.
Everyone is back.
The Eagles will miss senior starter Katie Price and spark plug Tr’El Shawn Smith and leader Emma Kelly.
But the Eagles can now plug in Brooke Trammell, Megan Barnett a healthy Izzy Smith and a host of other athletic Eagles.
“Riley Scheer did a lot of good things for us last year,” said Phillips, “but she played in pain all the time. She had back surgery this summer and is much bettter. Izzy Smith is back after a knee injury. We are bigger, stronger and faster – I give credit for that to coach Tracy and the team’s work in the weightroom.”
Phillips says he and his team realize that opponents will target the Eagles this season.
~ Find out more about the upcoming season in today’s Journal ~
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