PREVIEW – Lady Storm Add Brooklyn Clark for 7th District Title Defense

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A former Dawson Springs standout has added another former Dawson Springs standout as Hopkins County Central’s girls look to defend their 7th District championship in the 2021-22 season.

Phillip Cotton, who was a prolific scorer and all-state honorable mention player for the Panthers, took over the Lady Storm last season and promptly led to the squad to a 10-8 record and a district title.

Hopkins Central not only returns its leading scorer and top rebounder from a year ago, but has added former Lady Panther standout Brooklyn Clark.

Clark was a 1,000-point scorer at Dawson Springs before leaving that school after her freshman season. She played at Webster County last year, finishing second on the team with 11.5 points a game.

Now a junior, Clark figures to take over the point guard duties at Hopkins Central following the graduation of Madison Grigg.

Cotton said the Lady Storm have added one of the top players in the area.

“She has already scored nearly 1,400 points in her career. She’s is just a junior and already has a college offer and other schools have contacted her as well. She is one of the best players in our region for sure.”

Senior Briana Fritz returns for the Lady Storm after leading the team with 12.8 points a night last season Fritz led the team from long range, making 31 3-pointers while shooting 32.3 percent from behind the arc.

Senior Briana Fritz was the leading scorer for Hopkins Central last season.

Junior Mercy Sutton, a 5-foot-9 forward, pulled down 10.0 rebounds a game last season while also netting 7.0 points a contest.

Two other starters are back as well. Junior guard Emile Jones scored 9.2 points a game while senior Kire Peyton added 2.9 points.

Sutton and Jones could both be poised for strong seasons, but Clark should take over much of the scoring burden this season for Hopkins Central.

The Lady Storm will be looking to find some depth as the season progresses.

“We hope to develop some young players off the bench to help make us a deeper team,” said Cotton. “We expect to challenge for the district title again this season and make it to the regional tournament.

“We have been in the weight room all off season. We are hoping that this will benefit us throughout the season.”

The Lady Storm doesn’t have a lot of height, but will look to force the tempo and use its speed in transition.

Hopkins Central edged Madisonville-North Hopkins 46-45 in the 7th District championship game last season. However, COVID issues forced the Lady Storm to forfeit their first-round game in the 2nd Region tournament.

Hopkins Central and Madisonville figure to duke it out for the 7th District championship again this season.

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