The Joplin girls basketball has plenty of excitement surrounding the program leading up to the 2021-22 season.
The Eagles return a handful of players with a lot of varsity experience to anchor the upcoming season in hopes of taking the next step in terms of winning games. But Joplin is also welcoming a talented crop of underclassmen to the varsity level with the hopes of building for the future at the same time as competing this year. In other words, expectations are trending up.
“We are looking to be a much-improved team this year,” second-year Joplin coach Luke Floyd said. “We are looking for consistency this year and with a year of experience, we should be able to win a lot of the close games that we weren’t able to last season.”
Joplin’s list of returners include senior forward Emma Floyd, senior G Brooke Nice, senior F Ella Hafer, junior G Brynn Driver and junior G Izzy Yust. Floyd, who garnered all-conference defender, all-district and second-team 4 State all-area recognition, averaged 7.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and two blocks a game last season. Nice averaged 8.7 points and 2.7 rebounds, while Driver scored 8.2 points and grabbed 5.2 boards per game. Yust added four points and 2.3 rebounds, while Hafter averaged 7.5 points and three rebounds in two games before her season ended due to injury.
With that much production coming back from a season ago, it’s no surprise that Coach Floyd views the experience his players carry as the team’s biggest strength.
“We return a lot of our team from last year,” Floyd said. “So even though we only have three seniors, we will have an experienced core at the varsity level. We are an athletic bunch and as our freshmen gain experience, we will be a pretty deep team.”
Joining the Eagles at the varsity level this year is junior G Jill McDaniel, sophomore G Ashley Phillips, sophomore F Scarlett Floyd as well as freshmen guards Libby Munn, Maria Loum and Abby Lowery and freshman F Riley Kelly.
“We have a really solid core with Ella, Brooke, Emma, Brynn and Izzy,” Coach Floyd said. “With the exception of Ella, who was hurt last season, they all bring a lot of experience. They will be key as we work in our underclassmen throughout the season.”
“We are really excited about the potential of our freshmen and sophomores. We think that group has a very high ceiling and will be able to complement our upperclassmen once they are ready.”
The biggest key for Joplin in taking the next step will be the ability of taking care of the basketball. Turnovers at crucial moments turned the tides in several games for the Eagles a year ago. Coach Floyd believes the experience the team gained in those moments from last season will help the results turn in favor of Joplin this season.
“Getting beyond Joplin beating Joplin will be huge,” Floyd said. “We have to cut our turnovers in half from what they were last year. Scoring the basketball consistently and bringing energy and effort on the defensive end will also be paramount to us having the kind of season we want to have.”
Joplin opens the season at home against Cassville on Friday.
