Richwood Girls
Richwood Girls
Lady ’ Jacks enter with defensive mindset
By Dave Morrison for the register-herald
Going into a season without a specific go-to player might be cause for alarm for a team coming off a 14-9 season .
Not for Richwood Lady Lumberjacks coach Chris Mullins .
He says he knew how he would build this season ’ s roster last year when he saw senior Alexxis Keiffer put on a defensive clinic in a couple of victories .
“ We were playing at Greater Beckley , and we were down 23-9 in the first quarter ,” Mullins said , recalling the moment of clarity on how the future would look .
“ We were in our 2-2- 1 . We went to a diamond press with Alexxis Keiffer at the top and they couldn ’ t get the ball over midcourt on her . We ended up being up something like 33-27 at the half . She single-handedly won us that game by playing the way she did on defense . And she did the same thing in our game against Montcalm .
“ She is a hustler , and she gets on in the floor after every loose ball . And she is the leader of the team . It ’ s good to have that kind of hustle from your leader . And really , this team has kind of taken on that identity .”
Keiffer is back and ready to lead the team on the defensive end .
Without a known commodity as far as offensive output goes , Mullins is looking at what he does have .
“ We don ’ t shoot the ball really well , but I ’ m hoping that comes around and we can use our defense to make offense ,” the fourth-year coach
Amanda Ritchie / For The Register-Herald
Richwood ’ s Alexxis Keiffer , left , works the ball around Lacey Goodson of Independence .
said . The Lady Jacks have two other seniors who return to man the paint .
Sophie Smalley is the center , and at 5-foot-10 can be a paint protector for Richwood .
“ She is a smart player , and she is a good rebounder ,” Mullins said . “ At about 5-10 she is my paint protector . I expect her to have a big season for us on defense and that she can add a little offense inside .”
Sophie Mullins , the coach ’ s daughter , is the other senior .
At 5-10 , she is another big inside .
“ She is lanky , but she ran cross country and can run like a deer ,” Mullins said . “ She is going to block shots and is going to disrupt things .”
Of his bigs inside , Mullins said : “ I just think it will be hard to get shots over top if they hold their ground and keep hands straight up .”
Mullins knows he will have to find some offense and he thinks he does have a scorer in junior Kendra Rose .
“ She will probably be our leading scorer , she can make a jump shot ,” Mullins said . “ She is the best shooter we have ; she is basketball smart . She knows where to go with the ball .”
The point guard will be by committee , but freshman Emma Marlowe will be a key at the spot and she fits the bill as a defender .
“ She is going to be my starting point guard ,” Mullins said . “ She is scrappy , can steal the ball and is quick as a cat . Like I said , we have to do it on the defensive end , and she can do that . We just have to keep her focused .”
Mullins is expecting help from players like Kaelyn Williams , Madison Mullins and Carly Boyce .
“ Kaelyn Williams will be my first big off the bench ,” Mullins said . “ She is a smart player , and she has been working her tail off .
“ Carly Boyce can shoot the ball . She is still a little timid out there but if she comes out of her shell , she will be a factor .
“ Madison Mullins gives us some depth at the two or three spot .”
Richwood was 14-9 a year ago , and five of nine losses were to Independence and Greenbrier West .
“ We aren ’ t going to have shoot-at-the-moon expectations ,” Mullins said . “ But if they grow , and they stick together , play hard and hustle , which is what I ’ m seeing with this team , we can have a good season .
“ They have been working hard and working together . I ’ m going into my fourth year and it ’ s the best it ’ s been . They cheer for each other , they root for each other , it ’ s more team . This group will hustle , they give 125 percent . I think that hustle will keep us in ballgames , and I ’ m hoping we can outhustle teams , and do the dirty work , win rebounds and get loose balls and we can get wins that way .”
Other members of the team are sophomores Aliyah Cunningham and Braylen Canfield and freshmen Izzy Adkins , Hollie Johnson and Karlee Coffman .
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