Lady Bobcats aiming to change the culture
There’s really no way to sugarcoat it. It’s been a tough past two seasons for the Georgia Northwestern women’s’ basketball team.
The Lady Bobcats picked up a 71-62 victory over Johnson (Fla.) University in a game played in Rome back in February of 2014. That currently serves as the last time the Navy-andSilver put a check in the win column.
Of course a lot of things have happened since then. The decision was made that offseason to move the Lady Bobcats’ base from Rome to Rossville and Georgia Northwestern would begin the 20142015 season with an entirely new roster and an entirely new coaching staff.
Several players over the next two seasons either got injured and couldn’t play or chose to leave the program of their own accord. That attrition left head coach David Stephenson with an incredibly thin bench or, at times, no bench at all. As a result, the Lady Bobcats are currently mired in a 34-game losing streak, dating back to the final three games for the 2013-2014 season.
However, this year’s version of the Lady Bobcats is ready to change all of that...and more.
“In talking to the girls, they feel in order to change the culture of Lady Bobcat basketball, they also have to help change the culture of girls’ basketball in northwest Georgia,” Stephenson said. “We’re going to do everything we can to achieve those goals.”
It’s no secret that basketball has fallen behind softball and volleyball when it comes to participation among high school-aged girls, especially in the northwest Georgia area. More local athletes are opting for travel softball and club-level volleyball, nearly yearround, which is putting a dent in the number of girls playing basketball.
But Stephenson said the problem goes a bit deeper than that.
“We’ve encountered a few more things on the recruiting front the last few years,” he explained. “Some girls have told us that they aren’t playing basketball (after high school) because they’re burned out. Some say their boyfriends don’t want them to play and some say that their boyfriends are going off to school and don’t want their weekends tied up playing basketball. We get that some too.
“We also, unfortunately, have a long list of girls who say they just don’t want to go to college. They just want to go get a job and work. How do you go about changing that? We’ve thrown around some ideas, but
until the base of our recruiting area changes, we’ll probably struggle for numbers.”
Attrition has already raised its ugly head on this year’s squad as well.
Three players have already left the program and two more players are currently out with injuries.
“We’re kind of in that survival mode again,” Stephenson added. “But the ones we have want to change the culture.”
Stephenson has four healthy returning players, led by sophomore Katy Phillips, a point guard and this year’s team captain. She led the team in points (10.3 per game) and assists (2.5) a year ago.
Katy is basically my rock,” Stephenson said. “She’s committed. She’s at every practice and she does everything you ask her to do. If I had for more Katy’s, I don’t
know if I’d lose a game. Unfortunately, there is only one of her. She’s our captain and I know she’ll do a great job for us.”
Also back for their sophomore seasons are Kambria Bankston, Carrie Benedict and Sprite Dyer.
Bankston, a forward, averaged three rebounds and less than two points a game last year. Benedict will be counted on to improve on her numbers of right at one point and one rebound from a year ago and could possibly man the center of the paint, while Dyer, a small forward, brings back five points and over four boards a night.
The fifth returner from last year is 6-foot-2 center Madison Lewis, who scored over five points and pulled down over three rebounds a contest. However, Lewis recently had knee surgery and her status for the year is unknown. Stephenson said that Lewis might not be available until at the second semester at the
earlier, if she is able to return at all this season.
The newcomers include a trio of freshmen in Kaylin Graham, Taylor Hines and Sharqueva McCoy.
Graham, an LFO alum, will play guard for the Lady Bobcats. She was also a part of the Lady Bobcats volleyball team this past season, but injured a shoulder early in the season. Stephenson said is hopeful that Graham will be cleared to resume practice with the Lady Bobcats this week.
Hines is a guard that prepped at nearby Chattooga High School, while McCoy. also known as “Bunny”, will hold down a forward spot. McCoy is originally from Ohio and has family in the area. She was going to play at Hiwassee College, but changed her mind and began attending classes at GNTC over the summer.
“The ones we have coming back all know what to expect going into a season with low
numbers,” Stephenson said. “Bunny is probably the one player we have that’s going to surprise some people. She’s got a little bit of size, can handle the ball and shoot it pretty well. We’re looking for big things out of her.”
Also new to the team is assistant coach Amber Walker, who signed on back in September.
“Amber’s been great,” said Stephenson, who coached Walker at Silverdale Baptist Academy over a decade ago. “She blended well with the girls and she’s really taking a hands-on approach already. She’s already talking to some players for next year and getting us started, recruiting-wise.”
Stephenson said tempo will be a major key for his team, especially with seven available players. He added that his team would also have to make up for the loss in point production left by those players who aren’t back this season, including all-
conference performer Ashley Farrell.
“We know we have to do everything we can to control game tempo,” he added. “If we do that, we’re in good shape. We’ve also got to find somebody or a group of somebodies to make up for Farrell’s point production (9.3 per game) from last year. It looks like that could be Bunny, but it really needs to be more than just her.
“If we can do all of that, we’ll have a chance. If not it’s going to be a struggle.”
Despite the low roster numbers, Stephenson said the chemistry among the team members has been encouraging.
“Half of them have something to prove,” he continued. “They bonding has been good, they’re jelling pretty well and they all seem to be really sold out to do everything they can change the culture here. Plus, they really want that one elusive win.”
The Lady Bobcats will open the season
on Tuesday (Nov. 1) at Hiwassee College with tip-off set for 6 p.m. They will return to Rossville for the home opener at the Rossville Athletic Center this Friday.
A doubleheader will begin at 5 p.m. that day against Toccoa Falls College. The women’s game will open the night, while the Georgia Northwestern men’s team will begin their season in the nightcap.
Friday’s doubleheader will also serve as the program’s annual Food Drive Night. Fans will be admitted free with the donation of a nonperishable food item. Monetary donations will also be accepted and all donations will be given the Care Mission of LaFayette.
This will also be the Lady Bobcats’ first season as a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). Additional information can be found online at BobcatsCounty.com.