With basketball season in full swing and district play ramping up, UCR’s Rusty Ellis and Michael Lindsay have graded each team’s performance to this point. Grades were decided upon using multiple factors including win-loss records, quality of wins and preseason expectations for each school.
Lady Owls: B-
Overall Record: 9-7 (0-0)
Key Wins: Monterey, At Gordonsville
Reasoning: This is a team that new head coach Matt Ferrell was very high on entering the season, and for good reason. Players like Chloe Collins, Elle Haughton, Addy Hawkins and Merissa Spivey all contributed last season and Ferrell believes there’s an even higher ceiling they can reach. They’ve showed it in bursts, despite some setbacks like their home loss to Gordonsville or their recent trip to South Carolina.
How to Improve: Consistency is the key. They’ve put together a four-game winning streak and won seven of nine at one point, but the schedule gets tighter at the start of district play. If they can put their best basketball on the floor for 32 minutes consistently, they can make it to the district championship game.
Owls: C-
Overall Record: 4-11 (0-0)
Key Win: At Trousdale County
Reasoning: The Owls had a tough job ahead of them in replacing Dennis West from a year ago, but many were positive about the group head coach Trey Sanders had coming back. If you asked them before the season, the goal was to win the district championship. So far through the first few months of the season, the Owls have struggled with turnovers in crucial moments and that can’t happen in district play.
How to Improve: Value possessions and better shot-selection. The Owls had Gordonsville down by double-digits in the second half of their first meeting, and while the Tigers had plenty to do with the comeback, Smith County didn’t help themselves very much. It’s a microcosm of the season as a whole, but there’s still time to turn it around.