Oak Hill Girls
Oak Hill Girls
Pieces are in place for a good season
By Steve Keenan the fayette tribune
Tina Laney / For The Register-Herald
Oak Hill ’ s Taysia Gray brings the ball up the floor against Woodrow Wilson .
Darrell Compton is relishing a luxury to which he ’ s normally not been accustomed .
Compton , entering his sixth year as the head coach for the Oak Hill High girls , looks ahead to the 2024-25 season after losing just one starter and boasting a roster that is dotted with quality personnel — both inside and out — who can inflict damage on opponents in the coming months .
“ The good thing about what we have is we ’ re an older team , a lot of juniors and a lot of seniors , and I ’ ve never really had that ,” he says .
The Red Devils posted a 12-11 record last year , falling in the opening round of section tourney play . That report card marked possibly the first winning record for the OHHS girls since the mid- 2000s , Compton said .
A big loss to graduation was strong inside presence Cara Smith , but the remainder of the rotation returns largely intact for the Red Devils . The absence of Smith and her nearly double-figure nightly rebound totals can be offset by improved play of post players Ali Williams and Natalie Craddock , Compton said . “ The good news is I have junior Ali Williams and sophomore Natalie Craddock ,” he said . “ Both have worked hard in the offseason and gotten better .”
Williams and Craddock offer scoring threats on the interior , he noted , and both will likely be in the starting rotation . “ They ’ ve got some size . I ’ m excited to see what they can do .”
The Oak Hill roster is guard-heavy , and Compton isn ’ t complaining . Leading the way will be senior Taysia Gray , a four-year starter who runs the show for the Red Devils .
“ I have a wealth of guards ,” Compton said . “ Last year , Taysia averaged about 15 points a game , but was really the floor general ,” he said of Gray .
Other senior perimeter players who will expect to play major minutes are Jordan Harris , Addison Isaacs and Kerrisyn Feazell . Harris and Isaacs , a transfer from Midland Trail , are both recovering from ACL injuries but should be ready to go as the season commences , Compton said .
“ Jordan is getting back in the swing ( after a second ACL injury on a different leg than the first time ), and Addy seems to be pretty strong .”
Both Harris and Isaacs can also provide post play if necessary , Compton said . He said Harris was “ probably our best defender last year .”
The addition of Isaacs should free up Gray a little more offensively , the coach said . Isaacs ’ “ threat of scoring takes a lot of pressure off Taysia . She ( Isaacs ) can really attack the rim and shoot , and she can run point position , as well .
“ Obviously , when people game plan for us , ( the plan is to stop Gray ). Now , they ’ ve gotta stop Addy .”
Feazell has “ really put in the work ,” said Compton . “ She ’ s as athletic as they come and she ’ s really stepped up in the offseason .”
The seniors “ know what this season is all about ,” Compton said .
Juniors Kasey Compton ( about 7 ppg ) and Jada Wilburn ( about 5 ppg ) provide solid guard play , as well . Compton is “ a real spotty shooter , but when she ’ s on ( she ’ s effective ),” said her coach . “ Jada is another one of those athletic kids ; she can shoot and is really smooth .”
Another junior , Danielle Parsons , made strides toward the end of last season and “ she honestly should have had more playing time ,” Compton said .
Freshman Kinzlee Dove , from Fayetteville , will be looked to for quality minutes . “ I really like the way she plays ,” Compton said . Another freshman , Bella Holly , is “ working hard to get where she needs to be . She ’ s quick and plays very good defense .”
“ If we can stay ninedeep , I think we can play really fast and intense ,” Compton noted .
While his aim is to maintain a solid defensive showing , saying “ defensively , I thought we were really good last year ,” Compton says his team needs to ratchet up the offense some . “ Offensively , can we score ? That ’ s the big thing .”
“ The girls are older now and they kind of know what their role is ,” the coach said . “ They have more confidence .
“ Getting the girls to believe ... has benefitted all of them .” Email : skeenan @ register-herald . com ; follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter @ gb _ scribe
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