The Houston Lady Tigers’ top two scorers are gone. But coach Brent Kell is hopeful that may not necessarily be a bad thing.
Despite losing three-year starters Holly Thomas and Kendra Welch — and their more than 50 percent of the team’s scoring — to graduation, Kell thinks a balanced attack can translate into a successful season for the 2009-’10 Lady Tigers.
Houston brings back several key players from last year’s team that went 12-14 and was upset in the opening round of districts. Center Erica Keeney returns after averaging nearly a double-double, and senior Danielle Pounds started at shooting guard. Shelbi Moore and Tory Burgess played important minutes off the bench, and Amber Honig returns after a year away from the game.
“I think we’ll be more balanced,” Kell said. “Teams won’t be able to key on one or two players. I think they’ll have to play all five of us.”
Pounds will make the transition to point guard to replace Welch. She’ll be flanked by Jessica Herndon, Moore and Burgess. Haylee Kell and Kelsi Adey will provide backcourt depth.
Keeney averaged 9.4 points on 58-percent shooting and 8.6 rebounds to earn all-SCA honorable mention honors as a sophomore. She and Honig will start. Elizabeth Hayes and freshman Alexa Ichord will be part of a four-player rotation on the interior.
It may take multiple players to match the production of Thomas, who led the team with averages of 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots. Welch added 9.5 points while leading the team in assists (3.1) and steals (3.9).
“We’ll try to play all 11 kids,” Kell said. “Honestly, as I look at the team, they are probably all going to play some. We’ve got five or six kids that you can’t tell a difference in. They are all about the same talent.”
Kell said the team has displayed good chemistry in the preseason. He said the mental part of the game and handling adversity may be one of the biggest keys to success.
“If this team plays with confidence and doesn’t get down or feel sorry for themselves, then they can be successful,” Kell said.
MEET THE TEAM:
SHELBI MOORE
Year: SR
Pos: G/F
No: 10
Ht: 5-5
2008-’09 averages
Pts: 1.4
Reb: 1.4
Ast: 0.8
Stl: 1.1
FG%: 17
FT%: 50
DANIELLE POUNDS
Year: SR
Pos: G
No: 12
Ht: 5-5
2008-’09 averages
Pts: 4.8
Reb: 1.4
Ast: 1.0
Stl: 1.8
FG%: 28
FT%: 69
KAITLYN KELL
Year: SO
Pos: F
No: 14
Ht: 5-6
2008-’09 averages
None — Knee injury
TORY BURGESS
Year: JR
Pos: G/F
No: 15
Ht: 5-6
2008-’09 averages
Pts: 2.8
Reb: 1.9
Ast: 0.7
Stl: 1.4
FG%: 20
FT%: 71
AMBER HONIG
Year: SR
Pos: F/C
No: 20
Ht: 5-10
2008-’09 averages
None — Did not play
KELSI ADEY
Year: JR
Pos: G
No: 21
Ht: 5-5
2008-’09 averages
Pts: 2.0
Reb: 1.0
Ast: 0.0
Stl: 0.0
FG%: 20
FT%: 0
JESSICA HERNDON
Year: SR
Pos: G
No: 23
Ht: 5-2
2008-’09 averages
Pts: 1.7
Reb: 0.0
Ast: 0.3
Stl: 0.7
FG%: 40
FT%: —
HAYLEE KELL
Year: SO
Pos: G
No: 24
Ht: 5-4
2008-’09 averages
None — played JV
ALEXA ICHORD
Year: FR
Pos: F
No: 32
Ht: 5-7
2008-’09 averages
None — played MS
ERICA KEENEY
Year: JR
Pos: C
No: 42
Ht: 5-7
2008-’09 averages
Pts: 9.4
Reb: 8.6
Ast: 0.4
Stl: 1.6
FG%: 58
FT%: 44
ELIZABETH HAYES
Year: SO
Pos: F/C
No: 50
Ht: 5-9
2008-’09 averages
None — played JV