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expected to match or beat their strong showings last year—when the team finally broke into the win column after a winless 0-12 season in 1982.
“They could be my three strong forwards all year,” the coach said.
But Waters seems to feel less sure about his guards:
“It’s a big question right now. They could be a problem.” While he said two of his guard prospects this year—returning players Penny Atkins and Wendy Stringfellow—were both “very capable,” he added that because they were young and getting more playing time this season than last, “they have not had that much pressure against them yet.
So far. Waters said, the two have been able to "set up plays and move on fast breaks” in practice sessions. The Lady Panthers open their season at home against Warren County August 30.
The remaining practices—as well as two away scrimmages against William Monroe High and James Monroe High “will tell me a lot about who performs well under actual game situations,” Waters said.
The practices and scrimmages also will test two other team veterans, Marlena Jenkins and Joy Starks. Both should get more playing time this season, he added.
Rounding out the roster, as of Tuesday, were four rookies whom Waters worked with last year when he was junior varsity coach at RCHS. The four—Tammy Butler, Roslyn Cook, Charlotte McGee, and Wendy Coffee— are expected to fill the sneakers of Donna Atkins, Kim Settle and Melissa Turner, three of last year’s high scorers lost to graduation.
“They turned in good performances in JV last year,” Waters said. “They should do the same this year. ’’
The team, now 11 players strong, can still use a few more strong members, the coach added. “I hope to get more when school begins.”
So far, team practices have concentrated on sharpening defensive skills, with emphasis on the fast break—part of Waters’ strategy this season.
“I had them run fast breaks the other day,” he recalled. “They did pretty good—better than I expected. But I’ve learned that practices and games are two different things,”
The team will also have to play tough ball to emerge as a threat to the Strasburg Rams, last year’s district champions. The Rams last year finished 12-0 in the Bull Run standings, 19-1 in overall play.
“Everybody in the district is pretty tough,” Waters said, “especially Strasburg and Clarke.” The Lady Panthers ended their regular season last year by beating Clarke 65-54 October
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Waters Mid he hopes the rebuilding at other district contenders will hop RCHS top last year’s 6-6 Bull Run record, and make him a winner in his rookie season as varsity coach. *
“We had a good season last year,”
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