Manual senior Brianna DeBolt, junior Z’lisia Hankston, senior assist leader Alexis Westerfield and senior Azhure Shotwell are in front of donated exercise equipment and weights in the new girls basketball training room. An anonymous donor arranged for the equipment to be donated to the school.
Manual coach Jim Spurgeon is in his 25th year of coaching and his third year at the Redskins’ helm, where he has back-to-back winning seasons. MANUAL (15-10) – Redskins coming off second straight winning season under coach Jim Sturgeon …team came together late last year to upset Tech … five of the players on those two teams are playing beyond their high school careers … first group of fourth-year girls next year … leadership comes from 5-2 junior point guard Alexis Westerfield, in gym early every school day … 5-8 junior returnees, senior center Azhure Shotwell and improved Z’lisia Hankston, each had 100-plus rebounds last season … 5-7 senior Brianna DeBolt moves to backcourt … newcomer 5-7 junior Latonay Shropshire learning the game … depth from juniors Devionne Wright and Makyla Livers, soph Danae Hayes and freshman Kalesha Livers … must improve shooting percentage.
Coach’s comments: “Our players have traveled together already (Henryville tourney) and that helps them bond. We saw how they react in game situations. We are young and that trip really helps bring us together faster. Our JV team played there too … We’re going to play 30-second basketball with these girls. We’re going to get the ball up the court and if you take it away, we’re gonna try to take it away from you.
“Our defense will start with a full-court press. It means that our kids will have to be in condition. We want them to run hard, not just fast. We have to improve our transition game. As a team, they are learning to put everything together that we teach them. We want them to get to the point they move automatically on offense and defense. We’ll have a late-blooming team.”
Coach’s comments: “Our players have traveled together already (Henryville tourney) and that helps them bond. We saw how they react in game situations. We are young and that trip really helps bring us together faster. Our JV team played there too … We’re going to play 30-second basketball with these girls. We’re going to get the ball up the court and if you take it away, we’re gonna try to take it away from you.
“Our defense will start with a full-court press. It means that our kids will have to be in condition. We want them to run hard, not just fast. We have to improve our transition game. As a team, they are learning to put everything together that we teach them. We want them to get to the point they move automatically on offense and defense. We’ll have a late-blooming team.”
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