With no returning starters, coach looks at transfer to lead
The Mountain View Lady Yellowjackets ended the 2021 season 20-9 and 14-2 in the 3A-2 Conference. But after graduating the seniors last year, head coach Randall Storey has a mix of emotions about this coming season but is optimistic because of how hard his players work, he said.
“We are young, so we are going to have those hills and valleys at the start of the season but, hopefully, mature throughout the year and be consistent,” the coach said. “I think we are going to be competitive from Day 1, but there will be some bumps in the road due to the youth.”
One of Storey’s big hopes for this season is Kaitlyn McCarn, a 5-8 junior transfer from Melbourne, a team that is known for its winning reputation and has won four consecutive state titles.
“Last year, they were undefeated at Melbourne, so she knows nothing but winning, which is a nice addition,” he said. “She’s very athletic, a hard worker and has got a motor that just won’t stop; she’s the total package. … She’s the kind of pickup every coach dreams of.”
There is one senior on the team, 6-1 post player Torianne McCarty, but she had not played in a couple of years.
“It’s nice that she came back out because we didn’t really have a big player this year,” the coach said. “She’s a little out of shape, … but she’s a very talented girl. She’s got great hands and footwork. She carries her weight pretty well, so I’m glad to have her back, for sure.”
Junior power forward Ellie Akins, 5-9, will be another starter who will be vital to the growth of the Yellowjackets, the coach said, and brings a lot of potential and grit.
“She’s not all that athletic but makes up for it with effort,” Storey said. “All these kids are gym rats and work at the game constantly. She puts in time and is a good shooter with a high IQ.”
Freshmen Emma Akins and Jaci Cooper will most likely start as well, he said.
“They are young, but over the summer, they grew quite a bit,” the coach said. “We’ll have them a little more prepared, as they are gym rats and such hard workers.”
Although the Lady Yellowjackets are inexperienced and are not yet as cohesive as Storey would hope, they have been putting in the time to improve, he said.
“They are highly competitive and hate to lose, so I never have to question their effort level,” he said. “With a little direction,
I don’t have to get on them about playing hard, which sure makes my job a lot easier.”
This year, the conference gained a few top teams, including Melbourne, so the coach said the conference will be tough this year, but he strives to finish either third or fourth with a chance at the regional tournament.
“I hate to set my standards low, but I am a realist, and I know how good Salem is and how good Melbourne will be,” he said. “We saw Tuckerman this summer, and from the word I have gotten, those are picked to be the top three.”
No matter the challenges that lie ahead, Storey is confident that his team can put up a good fight.
“Going into the season, before Kaitlyn transferred, it looked pretty dismal,” he said. “We were going to be really bad, and I am talking about not-winning-a-game bad. … So far, I like the pieces of the puzzle that I’ve got. … We are going to be competitive and possibly a little better than that. … If they are giving it what they’ve got, I can be a happy coach.”