Senior Amari Lovan scored 10.1 points and grabbed 5.8 rebounds a game last season.
Madisonville-North Hopkins said goodbye to the 2nd Region Player of the Year last season, but an experienced lineup has the Lady Maroons ranked near the top of the region again this season.
Camryn LaGrange headed to Western Kentucky University to play soccer after leading the Lady Maroons to a 25-6 record and regional semifinal appearance a year ago on the basketball court. She topped the team in points and rebounds at 15.8 and 7.9 a game.
However, Madisonville still has five players back who started at some point last season.
“We have a lot of experience coming back,” noted Lady Maroon head coach Jeff Duvall. “Cam is a big loss, but we feel we will still be a really competitive team this year, and goals are the same as last year, district and regional titles.”
Senior Amari Lovan and juniors Destiny Whitsell and Emilee Hallum all started and scored in double figures last season.
Whitsell, a 5-8 forward, scored 11 points a game while grabbing 5.8 boards. Lovan, a 5-9 guard, got 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds. Hallum netted 10.6 points a night and is a threat from long range. She made 88 3-pointers last season while shooting 41.5 percent from behind the arc.
Meanwhile, sophomore Riley Sword started for half of last season before breaking her hand. Sophomore Jaycee Noffsinger started the second half of the year.
Sword scored 6.9 points a game in 16 contests while Noffsinger netted 6.4 points in 15 games.
“Riley Sword will surprise some, she was playing well last year before injury,” said Duvall. “Now at the point with Camryn gone, she should have a great year!
“Jaycee Noffsinger will also surprise people. Only getting to play the last half of the season, a lot of people didn’t really see what all she can do. Look for a big year from her as well.”
In addition to the five “returning starters,” senior Katelyn McGowan and sophomores Kailey Barber and Bryanne Johnson will provide some depth.
Look for a balanced attack out of the Lady Maroons, who figure to battle Hopkins County Central again for the 7th District championship.
Henderson County is the favorite in the 2nd Region again, but Madisonville is on the short list of teams who hope to challenge the Lady Colonels this season.
“We will be fun to watch,” said Duvall. “We like to get up and down the floor, we have a lot of girls that can score in many ways, and they like to defend, so we are looking forward to a fun year!”
Madisonville-North Hopkins opens the regular season on Thursday, Dec. 1, with a trip to Hopkinsville.
