With four starters coming back for Carthage coach Scott Moore’s second season, he is expecting that experience to be the driving force behind the Tigers taking the next step as a program.
“We return two of our top scorers, and our starting lineup will have four seniors and a sophomore point guard who started for us all of last season,” Moore said. “It’s nice to have that continuity. … It is a sense of security, but we also have four seniors in the starting lineup, so there is the challenge of making the last go-round the best go-round.”
Heading into year two at the helm, Moore is excited for the potential of success in 2020 after what he saw from his team a year ago when Carthage finished with a 12-14 record. He feels his lineup has the experience and correct mentality for taking that next step.
“I think, especially with this returning group, basketball is a lot more of a priority,” Moore said. “That’s no offense to the seniors who graduated because they went off to play other sports in college, and that’s great. Now, we are starting to hit a niche where basketball is more important to the girls. There is a little more devotion and offseason work.”
Carthage is led by returning senior starters Katie Crowe, Lauren Wilson and Hailey Fullerton (11.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 assists per contest last season), as well as sophomore point guard Kianna Yates (10.7 points, 5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals). Senior Brinna Ream figures to fill out the starting five.
“They have done a good job of setting the pace as the official leaders of the team,” Moore said. “I feel our shooting is going to be better, our scoring is going to be better. That was a focus this offseason.
“Hopefully, that will trigger our defense. … For us, our offense seems to give us energy, so if we get buckets, we can get into our pressing action. That’s where our energy is. If you don’t score, you can’t press, and they like pressing.”
What exactly is taking the next step for the Tigers? Aside from finishing with an above .500 record, Carthage has a goal of flipping the 2-7 Central Ozark Conference record from last season to earn a finish in the top half of the conference. Considering how many close games the Tigers were on the wrong side of a year ago, their aspirations are very possible.
“We talked about it in the preseason, and I think we should be finishing in the top half of the conference,” Moore said. “That is where Carthage needs to take the next step, and this group needs to do that. … With this group being mature and being experienced coming in, we should be able to take that next step into the top half of the conference.”
The Carthage girls open the season at Hillcrest at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 24.
