Three starters back for Lady Wildcats
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School girls’ basketball team returns three starters from last year’s 12-17 squad. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“I think we’ll be a lot better than last year,” A-J coach Matt Denny said. “Our goal is to be over .500 for the season. I”m pretty optimistic we’ll be okay.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Denny plans to build a winning team around a trio of returning starters in juniors Elle Basler, a 5-11, forward; and Lexa Sharp, a 5-6 guard; and sophomore Connar Hadley, a 5-11, center.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The two seniors on the squad are Erica Ralls, a 5-8 guard, and Reagan Morrison, a 5-6 guard.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The other junior on the roster is Caitlin Sawyer, a 5-6, forward.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sophomores include Jasmine Foster, a 5-5 guard who is a transfer from Marion; Asten Earnhart, a 5-8 forward; Lexi Macy, a 5-6 guard; and Lexi Smith, a 5-7, guard, who was a part-time starter last season.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The coach’s daughter, Hunter, a sophomore, will miss the entire season because of a torn ACL. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Freshmen who could contribute are Jacee Woodward, a 6-0, center; Sydney Heath, a 5-7 guard; Angel Helm, a 5-10 forward; Julia Ellis, a 5-6 guard; and Morgan Wendling, a 5-7 guard.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We’re going to be young, but we’ve got some athletes,” Denny said. “I believe our offense is a lot further along at this time than it was last year.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Denny said what’s making his job easier is the work being done by junior high school coaches, with Beth Miller at Jonesboro and Pat Pitts at Anna.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“They are doing a good job at the junior high level,” Denny said. “They’re making the transition a lot better. The freshmen coming in are comfortable with our program.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Denny sees a loaded Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Mississippi Division race this season.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“Everybody is loaded this year,” Denny said. “Nobody lost anybody. There’s not going to be an easy game on our schedule.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Lady Wildcats are scheduled to open their season in the Harrisburg Tournament next week. A-J plays Carmi-White County in first-round action Tuesday, Nov. 24. </span></p>