After getting within one step of making the trip to Rupp Arena last season, hopes are running high in Elkton this winter for the Todd County Central Lady Rebels. The Lady Rebels return one of the top players in the 4th Region and a more experienced ‘young’ roster with plenty of talent and a defensive mindset that will make more than a few opponents uncomfortable this season. All that combines to set up a possibly fun season for the Lady Rebels and their fans in 2024-2025.
Coach Nick Suttle is back for his third season with the Todd County Central girls’ program. His first team went 13-13. Last season, the Lady Rebels finished 19-13 and, after a loss to Franklin-Simpson in the 13th District final, got on a roll in the 4th Region tournament, making it all the way to the championship game before falling to Bowling Green.
Gone from that team are seniors Abby Williams (14.7 ppg) and Zalaya Smith (1.7 ppg). If the Lady Rebels can replace those points and leadership, it has the potential to be a special season in 2024-2025.
Senior Alexis Taylor is among the top players in the 4th Region and figures to get a great deal of attention from opposing defenses. Taylor averaged 18.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in 2023-2024. Plus, she is among the best interior defenders in the area.
Junior JaMya Kay is a slasher, attacking the basket with an explosive first step that leaves many defenders standing with a lost look on their face. After recovering from a knee injury the year before, Kay averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds a game last year. Watch for those numbers to climb this season.
Point guard Jordyn Shemwell did not play like an 8th grader last season. She averaged 8.4 points per game and has a high-speed motor getting up and down the floor. On defense, she can annoy opposing ballhandlers with constant pressure and then start the break going in the other direction.
Daymea Garrett, Chloe Collins, Kathryn Ballard, Zamira Harrell, and Ellie Miller have all shown significant improvement and now give the Lady Rebels something they have needed over the past couple of seasons and that is quality depth. Collins and Garrett saw the most extensive action of that group last season and should see the most immediate growth in terms of playing time and contribution this season.
The added depth will also enable the Lady Rebels to keep their defensive pressure turned up for longer stretches of time and make no mistake, the pressure and the turnovers it creates is a big part of what drives the offensive attack of the Lady Rebels. In two preseason scrimmages, the Lady Rebel pressure made it more than a little uncomfortable for opposing teams to try and get into their offensive flow.
Coach Suttle believes the biggest key to the season will be finding that leader who can step up when things are going wrong.
Player Under the Radar – With a great deal of attention deservedly focused on Alexis Taylor, Coach Nick Suttle advises watch out for junior JaMya Kay, who Suttle says will surprise people this year. He notes “She had a year to recover from ACL surgery and she is really turning it up in practice.”
Big Games – After finishing as the 4th Region runner-up last season, Coach Suttle has beefed up the schedule for 2024-2025. The Lady Rebels will face 2nd Region contender Crittenden County in the second game of the year at the Marshall County Hoopfest. Three days later they head to Owensboro to battle last year’s state runner-up McCracken County. The Lady Rebels will also play Christian County and Marshall County twice during the season. There is also the 4th Region All A Classic, where the Lady Rebels look to win that region title for the first time since 2009.
Outlook – One negative from last season’s regional tournament run for the Lady Rebels will be that they don’t catch anyone by surprise this season. With the ‘beefing’ up of the schedule, they will be tested early in the season and should be ready for the 4th Region All A Classic, the 13th District tournament, and the 4th Region tournament. With Taylor, Shemwell, and Kay forming a solid returning core, if the Lady Rebels get the expected growth from a very talented young group, things are set for a pretty special season for the Todd County Central girls’ program this season.
