By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor
Changes highlight the upcoming girls’ high school basketball season for area teams this year.
Plant City will usher in a new era with new head coach Stephen Eatman, who replaces Marc Boswell. Strawberry Crest is coming off a .500 season and will be looking to take the next step for the young program that returns every player from last year’s team.
Durant is coming off a successful winning season that had a bitter end because of injuries. The Lady Cougars will now move forward and regroup after losing several key contributors to that team.
DURANT
Coach: Kyla Donlevy
Years as head coach at Durant: 7
2011-12 overall record: 23-5
2011-12 district record: 8-2
District finish/playoffs: Lost in district semifinals
Durant is coming off a great regular season with a disappointing end. The Lady Cougars took the No. 2 seed in the Class 8A District 7 tournament but fell to No. 4 seed Wharton 52-49 in the semifinals, after receiving a first round bye and with two starters out with knee injuries.
Defensively, the Lady Cougars should be sound, with the return of Kera Kurns. The 5-8 senior will transition from shooting guard to point guard this season, according to head coach Kyla Donlevy.
Magan Lee also returns to the team after two years in Miami. The senior started her freshman year for Donlevy before moving to Miami. Lee stands at 6 feet tall and will return this season as Durant’s center.
“She has a strong inside game,” Donlevy said.
Donlevy said Akacia Nelson is rehabbing a torn meniscus from a step injury earlier this year, and the team hopes to have the senior back in action sometime in December.
The Lady Cougars lost sisters Asia and Ashley Nelson to graduation. Both were four-year starting guards, with Ashley holding the three-point shooting record for most in one game.
According to Donlevy, the team will have to overcome being young and inexperienced at some positions, with the goal of a strong district finish.
Durant is known for its high-intensity man-to-man defense, something Donlevy said will be a key to finding success.
“We are working on getting in shape so that we can finish games with a small bench,” she said.
PLANT CITY
Coach: Stephen Eatman
Years as head coach at Plant City: Entering first season
2011-12 overall record: 7-14
2011-12 district record: 3-6
District finish/playoffs: Lost in first round of district tournament.
Plant City will return a young team this season after a 7-14 season last year.
Head coach Stephen Eatman will replace Marc Boswell as the head coach at PCHS this season.
The Lady Raiders should be solid at the guard position with the return of sophomore point guard Avery Brown and senior guard Delazia Jones.
“We are a young team, so our goals are to grow, mature and develop as a team and to take advantage of young talent,” Eatman said.
The Lady Raiders lost two seniors — forward Whitney Sanford and guard Morgan McGavin.
According to Eatman, the key this season will be to be a disciplined team that plays strong defense.
In addition to Jones, Janeisha Kelly and Brooke Leonard will round out the three seniors on this year’s squad. Half of Plant City’s roster this season features freshman or sophomores.
STRAWBERRY CREST
Coach: Latosha Lewis
Years as head coach at SCHS: Entering fourth year
2011-12 overall record: 11-11
2011-12 district record: 4-6
District finish/playoffs: Finished fourth in Class 6A District 11, losing to Jefferson in the district playoffs
Head coach Latosha Lewis has been with the Lady Chargers since Strawberry Crest opened its doors in 2009.
The Lady Chargers return all of the main contributors to their .500 campaign last season and will be looking to further establish the young program.
“We want to become a powerhouse team in the upcoming years,” Lewis said. “We want to win districts and advance in the playoffs and become a well-rounded team.”
Key players returning include Aliyah Gregory and Maiya Trigg. Gregory, a 5-11 junior shooting guard/power forward, was named 1st Team Western Conference last season and set a team record for most points in a game with 31, along with 12 rebounds.
Trigg, a 5-9 sophomore guard, was an honorable mention on that team and holds the record for assists in a single game with 13.
Sophomore point guard Dominique Butler also returns.
“She has good handles and court vision,” Lewis said.
According to Lewis, her team wants to run a fast-pace, run-and-gun offense and pressure defense.
“It takes a lot hard work conditioning and strength training to play this up-tempo game,” she said.
Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.