The Madisonville-North Hopkins girls have played in the 7th District championship game each of the past seven seasons, winning four championships over that time.
However, the Lady Maroons open the new year chasing Hopkins County Central in the district race. The Lady Storm not only looks like the clear favorite in the district, but a contender for the 2nd Region championship as well.
Still, Madisonville has two returners back from last season’s 15-11 squad. With some talented newcomers added to the mix, the Lady Maroons hope to be playing their best basketball come tournament time.
“We are young and not much varsity experience, just trying to build and get better every day,” noted head coach Jeff Duvall. “We have a hard-working group and expect to be competitive.”
Juniors Macy Wright and Taylor Nelson return for the Lady Maroons and will be counted on for leadership.
Wright scored 9 points a game and grabbed 6.1 rebounds last season.
Nelson added 7.9 points a contest.
Look for those numbers to go up as both players figure to have the ball in their hands more this season.
Freshman Sadie Kirk also looks to move into the starting lineup.
“Sadie started for us at the end of last year,” noted Duvall.
While just a freshman, Kirk has lots of competitive experience with her roles on the softball and volleyball teams at Madisonville.
Freshman Lilly Gobin moves in after playing at Caldwell County last season. She got into 17 varsity games as an eighth grader last year, netting 3.3 points a game in limited action.
Sophomore Chloe Baker and freshman Mia Harris appear poised to take on bigger roles this season as well.
“Mia Harris is really been playing well,” said Duvall. “Lilly Gobin didn’t play much last year at Caldwell but she will be a huge contributor this year.”
Duvall listed Henderson County, Crittenden County and Hopkins County Central as his regional favorites this season.
The Lady Maroons plan on seeing the Lady Storm again in the 7th District final.
“We may take some bumps early, but we have the personnel to be a really good team as we move thru the season,” Duvall noted.
Madisonville’s girls are scheduled to open the season at home Tuesday night against Elizabethtown.
