Victory Baptist Girls
Victory Baptist Girls
Saints look to build on last season
By Gary Fauber the register-herald
The Victory Baptist girls basketball team was about as young as it gets last season . The Saints didn ’ t have a player above the tenth grade , and there were certainly growing pains .
But things got progressively better . At the end of the season , the Saints upset second-seeded Elk Valley Christian in the semifinals of the WVCEA Tournament before falling to Mercer Christian in the title game . They were 8-13 at one point before winning five of their final eight games .
“ We had a nice finish ,” coach John O ’ Neal said . “ The kids played well at the end , caught some breaks , and we made it to the finals . So it was a nice , strong finish towards the end of the year .”
And everyone on that team is back , a year wiser and still without a senior .
Kaydan Mooney and Grace Ward were both selected to the all-tournament team , and Mooney joined Jada O ’ Neal on the all-state team .
“ I would describe it as a more experienced team ,” John O ’ Neal said . “ A lot of key players back , and hopefully we ’ ll continue to improve playing as a team .”
Ward and Jada O ’ Neal are the only two juniors . “ Jada is a very good ball handler , and sees the floor well , shoots the ball well ,” O ’ Neal said . “ Grace is very athletic and also a good shooter , runs the floor well , plays great defense .”
Mooney , a sophomore , is back at power forward .
“ She ’ s a great rebounder and real athletic ,” O ’ Neal said . “ She was
Tina Laney / For The Register-Herald
Kaydan Mooney , right , of Victory Baptist gets around Greater Beckley Christian ’ s Leah Adkins .
our leading scorer last year . Just a real solid , allaround player .”
Another sophomore , Julianne McNeely returns at point guard .
“ She just continues to grow in her ability to see the floor and distribute the ball ,” O ’ Neal said . “ She does a great job running the offense , and is a real good defender . She ’ s a good leader on the floor for us .”
The fifth starter is freshman Sydney Thomas .
“ Sydney will play at the five position for us , but she ’ s pretty mobile ,” O ’ Neal said . “ She ’ s capable of handling the ball and a good perimeter shooter , as well as being a good defender and good rebounder .”
The top players off the bench will be a host of freshmen Amy Bolen , Abby Neff , Emma Huffman , Grace Jennings and Sophie Harvey .
“ Amy will play a lot for us at the guard spots ,” O ’ Neal said . “ She ’ s a good ballhandler , great defensive player , great hustler .
“( Neff ) is also just a solid , all-around player , good defender .
“ Emma is starting to turn into a real solid post player , becoming able to handle things inside and defend and rebound real well .
“ Grace is also a freshman post player , a good mid-range shooter , good defender .
“ Sophie is also expected to contribute in a backup role . This is her first year playing . It is expected to be a real good learning curve for her this year .”
With experience and depth , O ’ Neal is optimistic of the team ’ s potential .
“ As each player learns and develops her role , I think the team has great potential to achieve well this year ,” O ’ Neal said . “ I think the team is very unselfish and looking to achieve great things .”
Email : gfauber @ register-herald . com
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