KFDM COOP Posted November 10, 2008 Report Posted November 10, 2008 Lady Indians in rebuilding mode By Cody Pastorella The Port Arthur News Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of girls basketball previews The Port Neches-Groves Lady Indians basketball team is going to be small. Head coach Stephanie Ansel said her team's average height is about 5-5. One of Ansel's tallest players is 5-7 sophomore post Caitlynn Dykes who has not seen any varsity experience. Ansel's other other post presence is senior Samantha Lunceford, who PN-G greatly missed last season, as Lunceford was out all year with an high-ankle sprain. Outside of Lunceford, the Lady Tribe is only returning three players with varsity experience. Ansel lost eight players, including all five starters, from last year's team that finished with a 5-9 record in District 22-4A (now 20-4A). The Lady Indians were 10-17 overall last season and with so many players gone from graduation, most are likely ready to write PN-G off for this season. But Ansel is not so convinced. She said her team is fast and because of that speed she expects to disrupt a lot of teams. The key, she said, will be whether or not her team will find some rhythym shooting. "We're going to have to have some of our players step it up and be able to shoot well from outside. If we get that going and, because I think we have plenty of speed, I think we will be able to keep it close with just about everybody. Who knows, maybe we will be able to even steal a few games," Ansel said. Seniors Hayley English, Jenna Sako and Vanessa Stansbury round out PN-G's list of varsity returners. Joining the varsity roster this season are juniors Hannah Breuer, Shalyn Dickens, Kileen Felix, Jamie Ferrell, Lauren Hanratty, Victoria May, Paige Miller and Haley Savant. Ansel said she is excited about this season, which officially started Wednesday with the first real practice. Of the things Ansel is excited about, she's really anxious to see what Dykes will be capable of. "She's (Dykes) like a bull in a china closet. She is just so competitive, she's not going to let anyone push us around inside. She's going to bring us some attitude and I'm just really looking forward to see what she can do," Ansel said. Now with four teams capable of making the playoffs in Class 4A, the District 20-4A race may be a little more open. It should at least be an interesting fight for that final spot. The Texas Prep Basketball Magazine expects district newcomer Livingston, which won its league last season, to finish on top of 20-4A with Central and Ozen to follow. The magazine has Nederland slated to finish fourth in front of Lumberton, Little Cypress-Mauriceville and PN-G. Vidor was picked to fall to the very bottom. The Lady Tribe will start league play on Dec. 16 at home against Central. The Lady Indians will play in three tournaments including the Lady Gander tournament in Baytown, the Orangefield tournament and the Gulf Coast Classic tournament at Barbers Hill High School. PN-G's first game is scheduled for Nov. 11 at Hamshire-Fannett. The Lady Indians open district play at Ozen on Dec. 9.
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