Lady Panthers feature more athleticism in 2009-10

As Monte Dillard enters his fourth season as head coach of the Morehead girls’ basketball team he may have one of his most athletic teams as the season is set to begin Wednesday night.
With 13 girls on the varsity roster, the Lady Panthers have just three seniors and a total of six freshmen and sophomores suiting up for the season opener.
“What we lost last year was nearly half our points and that’s hard to place,” said Dillard, who graduated starters Amber Dalton, Mecail Martin, Jinea Adams and Bre Cathy. “Despite that, I think we are a step ahead a little on offense, but a step behind a little on defense.”
Dalton and the rest of the foursome accounted for two guards and two forwards in Dillard’s lineup.
Morehead’s key returners this season are slated to be senior Shenika Scales (forward, 6-0), an all-state track star at MHS and junior Kali Cuttaia (6-0), who can play both forward and guard.
Other starters will include senior Danielle Pinnix (point guard), junior Josephine Doggett (center, 5-11) and sophomore Sierra Dillard (small forward, 5-10).
“This group likes to play defense and they want to get better,” added Dalton, whose team finished 4-19 a year ago. “We have been preaching defense and communication all summer.”
Helping Dillard this season will be assistant coach Kim Perkins, who was the JV head coach last season.
Others who could start this season include senior Brayl Fax (G/F), as well as sophomores Jasmine Millner (guard) and Destiny Roberts, who was called up to varsity late last season when Millner was injured.
Dillard also expects his bench play to be much improved led by Tyre Morrison (Jr., F), who tore her ACL last year and her 6’0”-frame should add to MHS’s height, along with Kayla Broadnax (Jr., G/F), who also came on from JVs late in the season last year.
Dillard also has a pair of newcomers – freshmen Alyesha Galloway (5-9) and Dekeya Johnson (guard) and both impressed him with their play this summer.
Something else Dillard and the Lady Panthers will need to get use to is their new conference – the Mid-State 3-A. No longer will Morehead have to face Dudley and Northeast Guilford, but in their place come Burlington Williams, McMichael, Eastern Alamance and Eastern Guilford – winners of the North State 2-A Conference last season.
“It’s going to be a dogfight every night,” added Dillard.
Add to that, Rockingham County and Northern Guilford – who many think is the preseason favorite to win the conference – and it could be a dogfight for a lot of teams this season.
Dillard said his expectations are to finish in the top 3-4 in the conference and become playoff eligible.
“We have the potential and athleticism to do just that,” he said. “They are starting to gel right now.”
Wednesday’s season opener is against Bartlett Yancey in a non-conference tilt.
The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Eden.

2009-10 SCHEDULE
November
25 – Bartlett Yancey
December
1 – at Bartlett Yancey, 2 – Reidsville, 4 – at Magna Vista (Va.), 5 – Halifax County (Va.), 8 – Eastern Guilford*, 9 – at Reidsville, 11 – at McMichael*, 15 – at Eastern Alamance*, 17 – Burlington Williams*, 18 – Magna Vista (Va.), 28-30 – Magna Vista Holiday Tournament
January
2 – Register and Bee Holiday Shootout (Danville, Va.), 5 – Northern Guilford, 8 – at Rockingham County*, 12 – Western Alamance*, 15 – at Eastern Guilford*, 22 – at Western Alamance*, 26 – McMichael*, 29 – Eastern Alamance*
February
2 – at Burlington Williams*, 5 – at Northern Guilford, 9 – Rockingham County*, 15-19 – Mid-State 3-A Conference Tournament (at higher seeds)