In a season where the 8th District has positioned itself as a player in the region tournament, the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers are quietly optimistic that they can make some noise come postseason time.
Keith Leslie’s Lady Tigers played well down the stretch last year as players grew into their roles. But blowout losses in the district championship and region tournament left a sour taste in the mouths of the players and coaches.
Senior Kahtavia Fleming had a breakout season with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per game last year.
Sophomore MaKaya Payton was one of the Lady Tigers who grew into their role, scoring 7.5 points and leading the team with a 45 percent shooting clip from the field.
Inserted into Leslie’s backcourt is transfer Alicia Davis, who led University Heights Academy in scoring each of the last three years. With UHA not fielding a varsity team this year, Davis joins a talented backcourt expected to take Hoptown to the next level.
“We’re just trying to get some stuff implemented defensively and stuff with the new players. It’s coming together.” Leslie said. “Defensively, we should be really, really good.”
Davis is a slasher who topped 1,000 career points last year and knows there will be a learning curve with her new team.
“My role is going to be the same as it was at UHA, except I have to step up a little bit more,” she said.
Fleming knows the addition of Davis will not only make her and the team better in games but practice too.
“I’m looking to get everybody involved and start going out hard. Now, we’ve got Alicia and it helps both of us get better because she plays hard., I play hard. She makes us better,” Fleming said.
Hopkinsville also has some size inside with junior TaRia Sharber, who averaged eight points and five rebounds, and senior Shiyah Forte.
Keeping Forte on the floor will not only dictate Hoptown’s district success but also how far they can go in the region. The 5-foot-10 Forte has shown the ability to take over games, but injuries and foul trouble have limited her minutes.
Leslie also welcomes back junior guard Lashanti Wilson, who missed last season due to an injury, and senior Kimara Sheffield.
Hoptown’s roster also has seven sophomores and freshmen. Getting the right mix will be on Leslie’s mind in the early part of the season.
“I want to see consistency out of the players and everybody working together. Sometimes when you get transfer players and stuff like that, you get a little jealousy and stuff like that so we are just trying to make sure that none of that clouds what our vision is and everybody come in and do what they supposed to do,” Leslie said.
Hopkinsville will open its season on Nov. 28 at Warren Central.
