Knightstown Head Coach Charity Smucker talks to her team during an early season practice.
KNIGHTSTOWN, Ind. – Knightstown’s girls basketball team will have a different look this year as the Panthers begin the season with two home contests against Tri-Eastern Conference foes under new head coach Charity Smucker.
“I’ve got a good connection with the kids,” Smucker said. “I’m excited and I think we are going to do great things this year.”
In their initial TEC contests, the Panthers will entertain Winchester on Friday with Hagerstown visiting on Saturday.
Early practices have gone well as the Panthers prepare for their first season in the TEC, after a 4-19 campaign a year ago.
“The girls are responding real well,” Smucker said. “I’m pleased with where we are.”
“They’ve stuck together,” Smucker added. “The junior and senior classes are really tight.”
The top three scorers returning are senior Lori Thomas (7.1 PPG), juniors Sidney Vise (7.0) and Jessica Butler (5.5).
All three of those returnees averaged over five rebounds per contest a year ago, but Smucker is concerned about that area of the game.
“It has been for several years,” she said. “My biggest goal to stress this year is to be active. I’m sure we’re going to tweak a few things here or there, but I think the girls are ready just as much as I am to get the season started.”
Allyson Hauk, Dharma Holder and Kaitlynn McIntyre are the other seniors on the roster. The juniors are Kaitlyn Jackson, Elizabeth Moore and Maggie Smith.
Katie Clark, Alexis Howard and Emma-Kate Moore are sophomores, while Rene’ Witham is a freshman.