Hagerstown Head Coach Chris Oliger talks to his team during a pre-season practice.
HAGERSTOWN, Ind. – Chris Oliger is smiling each day as he watches the Hagerstown girls basketball team practice.
The main reason the Tigers head coach is happy is that there are now 20 players in the program.
“It’s a huge luxury to have,” Oliger said. “It’s been a great start. We’re getting healthy and we’re going to be alright.”
Senior All-Tri-Eastern Conference Honorable Mention choice Madison Brown is the top returnee from a year ago for the Tigers at 10.0 PPG.
Beth Jenkins is the other senior returning from last year’s 8-13 squad, while classmates Taylor Kelley and Lacee Dale are back after not playing a year ago.
“That’s going to be a huge asset to our team,” Oliger said of having four seniors.
Kelley averaged 6.4 PPG and 5.8 RPG as a sophomore.
Kassidy Oliger and Camryn Bradway are the returning sophomores. Oliger averaged 8.6 rebounds per game, while scoring 6.1 points a contest. Bradway scored 3.5 PPG.
Hallie Rogers, Kenzie Neeley and Kyley Farmer are freshmen on the varsity.
“They ready to go,” Chris Oliger said. “The depth is going to be great. We’ve put in some new wrinkles to things we’ve done in the past because we have the depth.”
The Tigers open the season at home against Eastern Hancock on Saturday. Hagerstown’s initial TEC affair is also at home with Tri High on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
“We’re going to lace our shoes up and we going to out there and compete every night,” The Tiger mentor said. “I’m looking forward to it and I’m excited. It’s going to be a fun season.”