After seeing their bid for a third straight 8th District title come up just short in last year’s district championship game, the Christian County Lady Colonels are looking to regain that title and make some noise in the 2nd Region during the COVID delayed 2021 basketball season. Coach Kiki Radford is back for her 5th season at the helm of the Lady Colonel basketball program.
In her four seasons on the job at Christian County, Radford has compiled a 70-53 record, with two 8th District championships, and one trip to the 2nd Region championship game.
As the Lady Colonels set their sights on returning to the top of the 8th District, the return of senior Trinity McGee is a big factor in the success plan for Christian County. McGee was on her way to a big season in 2019-2020 when a knee injury finished her junior season just six games in. McGee was averaging 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game when her year was cut short. McGee figures to play a central role at both ends of the court this season for the Lady Colonels.
With McGee out last season, Reni Shemwell was able to see significantly expanded minutes on the court. Shemwell parlayed that into 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest. If Shemwell can increase those numbers into close to double-double category, the Lady Colonels will have an inside force that will be a handful for any opponent to have to deal with.
Out front, Christian County returns the experienced trio of Mikayah Killebrew, Amari Brown, and Destinee Catlett-Watkins. That trio combined to average 20 points per contest last season, and those numbers figure to increase in 2021. A big question will be if they can improve their shooting from outside the arc, where the Lady Colonels were just over 22 percent last season. Senior Ashanti Banks joins the team this season and could add some critical depth to the backcourt for Christian County.
Radford’s teams have been known for their defense and that figures to be no different this season, so if this bunch can find some additional offensive firepower, they could be one of the darkhorse teams to push Webster County and Henderson County for supremacy in the 2nd Region. The loss of Eniya McGee from last year’s team will be felt, but the experience gained by some of the younger players last season could help make that process much smoother.
Coach Radford says one of the problems in preparing for the delayed new season has been trying to get all of the players together at one time for practice, which has hindered chemistry development heading towards the beginning of the new season.
The Lady Colonels will be tested by the time tournament time rolls around. The schedule includes matchups with Murray, Henderson County, Webster County, Apollo, Calloway County, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Bowling Green, Greenwood, Warren Central, and Owensboro Catholic, in addition to their run through the 8th District schedule.
Christian County is set to open the season January 5, when they travel across North Drive to take on University Heights.
YourSportsEdge.Com had the chance to speak with Coach Radford about the upcoming season. Hear her thoughts by clicking on the video below.
