LAFAYETTE LADY RAMBLERS
FULL COURT PRESS with LaFayette head coach Holly Rhudy
This team has come such a long way in a relatively short period of time. What has been the main one or two reasons for the resurgence of Lady Rambler basketball?
I believe our team has been successful due to the players buying into our philosophy of working hard each day and getting better each day. The girls want to do whatever it takes to get better, so success comes with playing competitively against their opponents and — hopefully — coming out with wins. They are taking pride in our team.
Anytime a team loses a point guard, it is hard due to the point guard being the leader of the team on the floor. However, we have a special scenario with our being able to fill that spot with a sibling. Fanny Barber may be just a sophomore, but she has learned a lot from (older sister and 2021 graduate) LaTyah Barber, who is one of the best players to play for LaFayette. Fanny has worked very hard in the offseason to develop her ball handling and shooting.
We will look to our senior class of just two players to help continue to push the team in the right direction. Mykeria Johnson will help out at the point guard and shooting guard positions. She is a threat on both sides of the ball and has been a starter since her freshman year, so her experience will help guide the team. Heather Tucker is the other senior who will be looked at for her leadership and her defensive tenacity.
We lost an aggressive post in (2021 graduate) Savannah Hall, but we’ll be able to fill her position with several options with returning junior Sara Pendley, a junior transfer in Ava Brown, sophomore Su’Andra (Suki) Williams, and a couple of freshmen in Olivia Acuff and Alivia Hughes. Also, returning as a (parttime) starter at the post from last year is sophomore Michaela Baker.
The team will also be looking at finding a starting guard with sophomores Jenna Baker and Kenedy Ludy. Also, freshman Raven Yancy will be fighting for some guard time. The team will miss junior Haven Yancy and freshman Ella Webb, who are both out for the season due to ACL injuries.
What is the strength of this year’s team, or what do you think it will be by the time the season gets into region play?
You graduated a small, but very important group of players from last year. How do you go about replacing what all they brought to the table?
I think the team’s strength will be its mentality. We as coaches are always trying to stress to the team that the game is more mental than it is physical. We have to be in it mentally every day in practice to be ready for the games.
I think the team is driven by the fact that we missed going to the state tournament last season by three points. After we got beat, I told them to not forget how they were feeling in that very moment and to make sure we do everything we can between then and this season to make sure we do not have that feeling in the region tournament again this season.
What is the key or keys to this season?
I believe the key to our season is going to be for every player to understand that she is good at something and has something to offer to the team. When players believe in themselves, believe in their teammates, and know that their coaches believe in them, the physical aspect of the game will take care of itself.
Having confidence is a key factor and it’s hard to beat a team that believes in their team.