Coach: Lady Lions to pressure the ball, push tempo

Having a solid team of veteran players, the Lady Lions are ready to build upon last year’s foundation. They are an experienced group led by four seniors with great chemistry, head coach Magen Scrivner said. This is Scrivner’s second season with the Lady Lions, and her assistant coach, Anna Chambers, a former Lady Lion, is in her third season. “The effort this team gives day in and day out will help us have a great season,” the coach said. “They are quick, athletic, good at pressuring the ball and good at pushing the tempo.” Last season’s record, 15-14, in the 3A-4, has left the door open for improvement, and several players are ready to step up their roles, the coach said, including the team’s four returning starters. Senior guard Lexi Bassett had 4.2 points, 3 assists and 1 charge per game last year, and her “ability to read the floor and use her step back has developed over the preseason,” Scrivner said. Senior guard Jaidyn Fortenberry, with 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game, “is a solid rebounder on both ends of the floor,” and junior forward Lillianna Fehrenbacher, with 7.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, is a “strong forward who can step out and hit the outside shot,” the coach said. Junior guard Taryn Anderson, with 7 points, 2 steals and 1 assist per game, has “a quick first step and is explosive in getting to the rim,” Scrivner said. Besides returning starters, the team also has solid inside and outside threats. Inside players include senior Cassidy Tucker, who is a “great post player who can step out and knock down the outside shot with great court awareness,” the coach said. Sophomore Abby Storment is a “great presence on the inside posting up and getting to the rim,” Scrivner said, and sophomore Madison Cummings has an “aggressive mentality to go get offensive and defensive rebounds.” From the outside, players include senior Amy De Haas, who has “developed the ability to go both right and left with ball penetration and has a quick first step,” the coach said. Sophomore Callie Pederson has “developed a great shot from the perimeter and is consistent,” Scrivner said.