Over 2,000 points and 2,000 rebounds graduated from the Livingston Central Lady Cardinal lineup last year, which has second-year head coach TJ Palmer turning to some younger players who saw key minutes last year due to injuries to starters.
Aubrey Leahy missed most of her junior season due to a knee injury, and Palmer is hopeful to have her running wide open after Christmas. Leahy averaged eight points as a sophomore and 6.6 last year before the injury ended her season after just ten games.
Her younger sister, Taylor Leahy, shared the point guard position last year when Aubrey went down, and she can knock down shots from the outside. She averaged six points a game and hit 36 shots behind the arc at a 32% clip.
Sophomore Brooklyn Collins (4.4 ppg.) also showed the ability to knock down shots with 28 three-pointers made.
Livingston Central is expected to have the services of inside players Reese Palmer and Neveah Jennings (2.0 ppg., 1.0 reb)
Juniors Irelynn Burns and Jena Scheer also give the Lady Cardinals some size in the paint.
The Lady Cardinals have been bothered by a spate of injuries over the past few seasons that have limited their ability to advance in both the All A region tournament and the district tournament.
How well the younger Lady Cardinals develop will determine their district placement in a top-heavy district with Crittenden County and Lyon County.
The Lady Cardinals open their season Tuesday at Graves County and will host Lyon County in the district opener next Tuesday.
