LCMS Basketball Set To Tip Off

The Lewis County Middle School Lady Panthers and Panthers basketball teams are set to tip off their 2020-21 basketball schedule this Thursday and Friday, October 15 and 16 in the Hampshire Tip Off Classic at Hampshire Unit School. The Lewis County teams will play the Hampshire Lady Hawks and Hawks on Thursday night beginning at 6:30 and return to play the Santa Fe Lady Wildcats and Wildcats beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

The Lady Panthers were 2-16 last year, and the upcoming season comes with a new coaching staff and tempered expectations. Jason Fite is the new head coach for the Lady Panthers and says the team is working hard to improve. "We have a very small number of girls returning with (game) experience, and several that have played very little or no basketball before," Fite said. "We are looking at inexperienced girls to fill some roles and we will experience some growing pains. We are excited about the opportunity and feel like we can compete, but it will be a daily grind to get to where we want to be," he continued.

The Lady Panthers return one starter from 2019-20, Jayden Moore, and will see several young players thrust into important roles. "We have to build depth at key positions and will be looking to see improvement over the long season. We have a big roster and hope the number of junior varsity games we have this year will help our young players learn the game and get valuable court-time," Fite concluded.

Fite will be assisted this season by Britni Arledge and Kaylie Webb. The 2020-21 Lady Panthers are Jayden Moore, Claire Whitehead, Kameron Newton, Hailee Burns, Addison Carroll, Anslea Emory, Aubrey Hankins, Emery Norris, Gabii Ortiz, Addison Osborne, Aryn Shepherd, Klayr Shepherd, Olivia Smith, Haylee Carroll, Jazalyn Conner, Paisley Kellogg, Greer Lewis, Stailee Moseley, Brylee Renner, Beonka Smith, Aubry Warren, and manager Bailey Cramer.

The Panthers are also coming off a 2-16 season and had changes in the coaching staff as well. Kyle Tenison has taken over as head coach of the Panthers for the upcoming season and has optimism about the schedule. "We are really excited about the upcoming season," Tenison said of the Panthers. "The coaching staff is happy with the progress thus far and is eager to watch the players learn and grow throughout the season."

The Panthers, like the Lady Panthers, returned only a couple of players who started last year and limited experience on the roster. "We will depend a lot on players with little game experience and youth every night, but we have been working hard to improve and prepare," Tenison added. Tenison is assisted by Brad Creasy and Michael Creasy this season.

The 2020-21 Panthers are Gavin Durham, Jaxon Fite, Corbyn Harris, Julian Jones, Cade Lomax, Sam Moore, Steele Moseley, Ryan Tanner, Kade Carroll, Micah Godfrey, Ben Price, Drew Ray, Kolt Skelton, Jalen Smith, Bo Banks, Dakota Hull, Phenix McDonald, Cord'e Pope, Carter Stewart, and Maddox Tanner.

The Lady Panthers and Panthers will be cheered on by the 2020-21 Panther Cheerleaders, coached by Ciara Bowen. "The cheerleaders and I are so excited to cheer on our basketball teams this year," Bowen stated. "The girls have been working extremely hard as a team to make sure they are at their best. I am already super proud of them and glad that I get to be their coach. They are a special group. GO PANTHERS!!" Bowen concluded.

The 2020-21 cheerleading squad includes Shainah Beasley, Dee Dee Hodges, Raegan Murphy, Addie Morgan, Olivia Renner, Jordyn Mahoney, Sydney Owen, Kierston Trull, Analeigh Walker, Brylee Whitehead, Ashley Wilson, and Jena Knell.