Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Pressing for more

After barely missing last season's regional finals, the Wharton Lady Wildcats are counting on their pressure defense to carry them to bigger things.

By TERRY JONES
Published January 21, 2005

NEW TAMPA - They were close. So close.

In last season's playoffs, Wharton High School's girls basketball team came within three points of winning their last game and qualifying for the regional finals.

The Lady Wildcats ended their season 27-7.

But having lost only two seniors from last year's team - only one of which was a starter - Wharton is long on experience this season. That experience has helped the Lady Wildcats to a 14-4 record so far.

Wharton coach Jaymee Wallace has seven players back who have varsity experience. She also has talented newcomers from last year's undefeated junior varsity team to fill out her bench. The school's JV program is 65-0 in the past 31/2 seasons.

With little height - the Lady Wildcats' tallest player is 5 feet 10 - Wharton has relied on quickness and athleticism, Wallace said.

Wallace said her team's pressing defense causes numerous turnovers for opponents.

"Depth is a big plus for us," she said. "I play 10 girls each game. If someone gets into foul trouble, we can take her out for a while without hurting our efficiency on the floor."

Jessica Piggott, the team's 5-foot-9 center, leads the Wildcats in scoring with 16.5 points per game and in rebounding with 13.5.

Piggott recently set a school record of 15 steals in a single game.

"It's fun to play basketball with this team," Piggott said. "No one is selfish. We really work and play well together. I would say unity is our best asset as a team."

Jessica Wimberley, a senior guard, is the team's top outside threat. She recently set a school record with seven 3-point baskets.

TaSheena Spearman is the team's tallest player at 5 feet 10. Wallace says she is a strong post player, but has been out of the lineup recently with a broken nose.

Theresa Hackett and Nikki Kelley are senior guards and returning starters.

Kelley is the point guard and court director. In addition to being an aggressive defender, she leads the team in assists with an average of 4.8 per game.

Hackett is a shooting guard averaging 11 points per game. She leads the team in field goal percentage, hitting 47 percent of her shots.

Whitney Jennings is the only junior in the starting lineup. She was a starter as a sophomore.

The 5-9 forward averages nine points and 10 rebounds per game.

Opponents of the Wildcats must be prepared to have their endurance stretched to the limit.

Because they are small, they press for most of the game.

"We currently hit around 57 percent from the free throw line and we are working to improve to 70 percent," Wallace said. "Our four losses could have been reversed with better free throw shooting. We are working hard to improve that by playoff time. We will host our district this year, which may help going into the playoffs."

[Last modified January 20, 2005, 08:52:11]