Five starters return for Shawnee squad

Shawnee High School girl’s basketball coach Chad Pitts has a lot of experience returning for the 2009-2010 season.

The Lady Reds have five starters returning from last year’s 6-16 squad.

The five returning are seniors Jonnie Ellet, a 5-7 forward, and Alexa Hileman, a 5-8, forward; juniors Kaylee Boston, a 5-7 guard-forward, and Morgan Kennedy, a 5-8 guard; and sophomore Jessie Reynolds, a 5-6 guard.

Pitts said Boston, who was injured last season, should be healthy this year. She was averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds a game before the injury sidelined her.

Pitts said the team didn’t have any depth last season, but has a lot of bench  strength this season.

Two other sophomores vying for playing time are Elena Houston, a 5-5 forward, and Whitnie Smith, a 5-6 guard.

Freshmen on the roster include Taylor Ellis, a 5-8 guard-forward; Jordan Johnson, a 5-8 forward; Reagan Brown, a 5-6 guard; April Kutak, a 5-3 guard; and Taylor Loveless, a 5-5 guard.

“We have three or four freshmen who are going to get a lot of playing time,” Pitts said.

Pitts looks for a quicker paced squad.

“Hopefully, we’re going to look to push it (up the floor) more this year,” Pitts said.

The team is searching for a point guard who can get the ball down the floor.

“We have no true point guard right now,” Pitts said. “We’re looking for one who doesn’t turn the ball over.”

Vying for the point guard slot are Kennedy, Boston, Ellis and Brown.

Pitts looks for Goreville and Cobden to be the powers in the South Egyptian Conference race.

The Lady Reds open their season this week in the Lady Bobcat tournament at Meridian.