Thomas Jefferson returns a plethora of starting experience as well as depth down the bench with the hopes of not only duplicating, but surpassing last year’s success as TJ heads into the 2023-24 season.
The Cavaliers will be under the tutelage of first-year head coach Lindsey Showalter, previously an assistant coach with Thomas Jefferson before taking over the program.
“I am very excited for the season,” Showalter said. “I am a competitor, and my girls know that. I have always preached effort and staying disciplined. I believe to see results you must be able to be disciplined because that leads to good habits. Habits lead to consistency and consistency leads to growth. You must be willing to enjoy the process and grind to create the product.”
Thomas Jefferson—which finished with a 14-11 record last season in a bounceback year for the program—returns four of the team’s five starters from a year ago, but has several players with varsity experience.
“We have a great group of girls who are looking to win every time we step on the floor,” Showalter said. “We had a great offseason this summer. These girls are out to prove something, and we are looking to change the narrative of Thomas Jefferson Lady Cavs basketball. All season, we want to consistently grow because becoming conference and district champions is the goal.”
Highlighting the list of returners for Thomas Jefferson is senior F/G Gabbi Hiebert, who averaged 16.5 points per game, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 steals a game as the scoring leader, and junior C Lannah Grigg, who averaged 13 points, 13.4 rebounds and one block a game for the Cavs last season.
“(Gabbi) is a very versatile player and is a playmaker,” Showalter said. “She has a great outside shot, but can also create her own shots going toward the basket. Gabbi is one of our top defenders as she led the team in steals last year.
“Lannah brings intensity at the defensive end with her shot blocking ability and clogs the paint. She is a rebounding machine on the defensive and offensive side of the ball. We look to feed Lannah on the offensive end every time because of her size and her ability to finish close to the rim.”
Also returning to the starting lineup for Thomas Jefferson is senior G Sarah Mueller (6.1 PPG, 2.0 SPG) and senior F Alexis Stamps. Junior Presley Long is projected to start at guard, while sophomore Haley Orr also brings back starting experience from her freshman year.
“We hope we can stay healthy throughout the season,” Showalter said. “We are a small team, and every player is vital to our team’s success.”
Junior Kiera Onyango, junior Macie Shifferd and freshmen Vivian Sharp and Kirra Moser also project to provide rotational depth down the bench”
“We are returning four out of our five starters, which is huge,” Showalter added. “We have great chemistry and have high expectations this year. Our greatest strength is our ability to work from the inside out, with Lannah inside and our shooters on the outside. We would like to become a more sound defensive team and more proficient on the offensive side by getting more players involved on the offensive side. We want every player to be a threat on the offensive end. Last year, we were in foul trouble in too many games and, at times, it hurt us.”
Thomas Jefferson opens the season on Monday as the hosts of Exeter before entertaining Bronaugh on Tuesday.
