Shady Spring Girls
Shady Spring Girls
New veteran coach at helm for Tigers
By Dave Morrison for the register-herald
It was not an easy decision for new Shady Spring coach Tracy Raban to leave PikeView before the summer months started .
She took the job in 2020 , the Covid year , and continued the successful run the Lady Panthers have enjoyed over the last decade , going 54-31 including a berth in the Class AA state semifinals in 2022 and multiple state tournament berths .
On the surface , leaving a state tournament team for a two-win program might have been a headscratcher .
Truth is , it was anything but and Raban said she made the right decision .
Her family had moved to the Shady area earlier , and her daughter Peyton was transferring into the school system .
“ It was a decision on whether to be a part of my daughter ’ s high school years and you only get one shot at that ,” Raban said . “ It was an extremely tough decision . It was hard to leave PikeView and I loved my girls , and I enjoyed my time there .
“ But the Lord had a plan , and I knew the right thing was to make the move . It was good timing as far as the ( Shady Spring job ) being open .”
Raban is a veteran coach of winning programs ( Graham , Va ., and Princeton before PikeView ) and she won two state titles at Mercer Christian before a successful college career at Glenville .
Shady Spring was 2-17 last season , but Raban said getting the best out of her new players was
Amanda Ritchie / For The Register-Herald
Shady Spring ’ s Kendra Pizzino works the ball against Independence .
just a matter of providing a little coaching , self-confidence and setting goals that are within reach .
“ We just need to build up their confidence ,” Raban said . “ I ’ m not going to expect more than we can do , but also working with these girls early in the season I know they have some talent in here .
“ We have to get that out of them . The things we can do are play hard and try to improve each time out . I ’ ve been in these situations before . Rome was not built in a day . It ’ s the same thing here . To compete , the things we can do now is play hard and not slow down when we hit a little adversity . It ’ s a challenge .”
There are pieces in place at Shady Spring , and that starts with her seniors who have been long time members of the program : Kendra Pizzino , Austyn Barnes and Megan Hedrick .
Pizzino , who will be a four-year starter , averaged 10.7 points and had 48 3-pointers last season . In her career , the senior shooter has scored 533 points and has also hit 121 3-pointers .
A former point guard herself , Raban likes what she sees .
“ This kid is willing to learn , and she asks a lot of questions ,” Raban said . “ She is going to be our floor leader . She can shoot . And she is working at improving her overall game . She has been here , she has had some success , but she is eager for the team to have success .”
Barnes is back after finishing second on the team in scoring ( 5.7 ppg ) and third in rebounds ( 3.6 ).
“ She is going to bring a lot of strength to the team and is going to be a force on the defensive end of the court ,” Raban said . “ She might even play a little in the post for us .”
The true post on the team is Megan Hedrick , who transferred from Midland Trail after her freshman year and hasn ’ t stopped rebounding since , with 251 in two years . Last winter she averaged 5.2 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game .
“ She is coming off an injury , but it was important for her to be out here for her senior year ,” Raban said . “ She is our main post , and she can rebound and score around the basket .”
Skyler Gibson , a sophomore , is also back after seeing varsity minutes last season .
“ We ’ re going to be asking a lot from her ,” Raban said . “ She saw some varsity time last year , so she returns with some experience .”
Gibson appeared in 19 games , averaging about two points per game .
The coach is also hoping to get some minutes from sophomore Phoebe Jordan ( five games in 2024 ) and freshman Bryanna Shrewsberry and Peyton Raban , her daughter .
Other members of the varsity getting a look for playing time early in camp are Claire Willson , Charlotte Glande and Brooklyn Brogan .
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