Lady Tigers have talent and height, lack depth

Tonight's Nevada High School girls basketball opener against defending Class 3 champion Stockton is sure to be a stern test for the Lady Tigers.

However, there are tests to come that only time can answer.

Questions like how long will it take for three new faces to mesh into a starting unit? How quickly will the young players mature? And will a lack of roster depth be an issue?

Nevada coach Brent Bartlett, embarking on his seventh season at the helm, said, "It's tough to read right now, because we are so young and have so many new faces."

The Tigers, who finished 16-12 and won a district title last season, have two returning starters back in 5-4 junior guard Hillary Adams and 6-foot junior post player Lacy Leonard.

That duo certainly provides a solid cornerstone on which to build.

Adams, an all-conference, all-district and all-area selection as a sophomore, led the team in scoring (15.6 ppg) and assists (5.5 per game).

Leonard, also an all-conference choice, was the scoring runner-up at a 11.6 ppg clip and the second-leading rebounder with 5.7 per game.

Said Bartlett, "They give us a good inside-outside combo."

Two returning letterwinners, 6-foot junior post player Katie Rice and 5-6 sophomore guard Lisa Pendrak, move into the starting rotation.

Rice, last season's sixth man, gained valuable varsity experience and finished as the third-leading rebounder with 3.8 per game. Rebounding will be her primary focus, which coincides with an important team goal of controlling the backboards and limiting the opponent's shot attempts.

"Based on the way she played in summer ball," said Bartlett, "I believe she can fill that role."

Pendrak, who split time between the JV and varsity, is a solid ball handler and capable shooter. Her ball-handling skills should free top scorer Adams to run the floor, beat double teams and create more one-on-one situations.

Rounding out the starting five is junior transfer Chanelle Braun. The 6-foot Braun is big and strong enough to play inside and athletic enough to play a wing or guard position.

"She has met all my expectations and exceeded them," said Bartlett of Braun. "She's really going to be an asset."

The starting five, with three six-footers on the court, is capable of presenting matchup problems for the opposition, but injury or sickness could be devastating.

The loss of two sophomore varsity starters and a top sophomore junior varsity player, all of whom chose not to return, have thinned the Lady Tiger ranks.

Two freshmen, Amanda Wilson and Afton Baldwin, must, by necessity, be force-fed at the varsity level. They likely will be first off the bench. As with most young players their transition may be rocky at times, but both are fine athletes which should speed the process.

Bartlett, two wins away from a career total of 200, sees this team getting better with each passing game.

He's been pleased with the camaraderie, focus and work ethic of this group.

"This team's been a joy to be around," he said. "The chemistry is as good as I've seen since I've been here. When they step across the lines, they're all about playing basketball.

"And I can't say enough about how the juniors have been such tremendous leaders."

The Southwest Conference race could be a dilly. Most observers think it's as even, top to bottom, as it's been in a while.

Bartlett gives Webb City and McDonald County a slight nod, with the Lady Tigers in the middle of the five-team race, ahead of Carthage and Neosho.

"I would give our team a realistic chance (for a conference title)," he said, "but the top four teams all have a chance."