KFDM COOP Posted November 8, 2008 Report Posted November 8, 2008 Henderson, Charles lead Lady Titans By Cody Pastorella The Port Arthur News Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of girls basketball previews. The Memorial Lady Titans will have some fresh faces this basketball season. Memorial lost Amber Kinlaw and Kandice Smith from last year's team, which finished 21-11 overall and 10-4 in District 21-5A. Head coach Joe Fonteneaux said Kinlaw and Smith will both be missed because of their offensive ability and leadership qualities. Fonteneaux said the two accounted for nearly two thirds of Memorial's scoring in a season that ended with a first round loss to Deer Park in the Class 5A playoffs. The good news for the Titans and Fonteneaux is that their all-star guard Kat Henderson is back, along with Sasha Charles and Shalisa Jones. Henderson, who is being heavily recruited, led the team in scoring in 2007-08, averaging 16.7 points per game. She also averaged 4.2 assists and 5.8 steals. She possesses good size, can score on the dribble, with either hand and she pressures the ball really well. Charles is no slouch either. Also a guard, Charles averaged 9.7 points last season, along with 7.5 assists and 3.8 steals. In all, Fonteneaux has five players with varsity experience back from the 2007-08 team. But even after losing eight players from 2006-07 and seven more in 2007-08, Fonteneaux feels confident about this season and the near future. Fonteneaux said he has a number of sophomores who are coming up. His sophomore class, he said, has two players 6-1 or better and he expects the guards from that group to also play very well. "I expect that there will be some growing to do," Fonteneaux said. "We are really young. Several of our girls will be getting varsity experience for the very first time this season. But I think this group is ready and I know there is a lot of talent in this group. They've done well in summer ball and we've had a good fall." He also said his sophomore class has been playing AAU ball together since the seventh grade. Senior forwards Naisihia Williams and Brittany Hall and sophomore guard Freddi Voorhies round out Fonteneaux's list of returners. His prospects include senior guard Ashley Sias, junior forwards Kelli Smith and Wendi Mitchell and sophomores Chasity Wallace, Summer Woods, Tra'Bethyia Gordon and Allysa Remo. Fonteneaux said he feels comfortable with the Titans' youth because of the longer non-district schedule 21-5A has now that it is down to six teams (Baytown Lee, Baytown Sterling, North Shore, Channelview, West Brook and Memorial). Last season, 21-5A started district play in early December. This season, league games will not start until Jan. 9. Fonteneaux said that should give his team plenty of time to get acclamated with one another and the quality of competition at the varsity level. He added that he feels very good about his non-district schedule and the opponents his Titans will face in tournament play. "We're going to use those tournaments to benefit our younger players. We may not win every one of those games but we're going to be tested and hopefully that gets us ready for district," said Fonteneaux who added that his team should be a faster bunch with much better size in the forward position this season. Memorial will play in the Gander Classic in Baytown, the Lady Bulldog Classic in Nederland, the YMBL tournament in Beaumont and the McDonald's All-Star tournament in Bryan. The Titans also have games scheduled against Kingwood, Humble, Atascocita, Central, Ozen and Nederland. As far as the district race, Fonteneaux said he feels like North Shore is probably the favorite but he expects his team to finish no worse than second. Memorial opens its season at home Nov. 11 against Lumberton. It’s 21-5A opener at Jan. 9 at Channelview.
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