With 9 players, numbers an issue for Lady Red Devils

Conference: 1A-5

Coach: Jordan Long

Assistant coach: Jimmy Prowse

2019-20 record: 8-19

Returning starters: Junior Zakiya Laird; and seniors Shalom Emerson, Emma Driver and Tajanek Barnes

The biggest concern for the Augusta girls basketball program is its depth. The Lady Red Devils only have nine players this year, so everyone is going to have to do her part when called upon, head coach Jordan Long said.

“Our main focus is to stay out of foul trouble and stay healthy,” said Long, who is in his fourth year as head coach at Augusta. “Consistency was a big issue early in the season last year. Finding that person who could score or be your best defender was a big question mark until January.

“They played much better in the second half of the season, and a lot of those questions were answered. Everyone started to figure out what her role was, and the team played so much better that we made it to the regionals back-to-back years. Hopefully, we can continue that momentum into this season.”

Augusta, which finished 8-19 last year, will return four starters, including junior guard Zakiya Laird, who averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds per game as a sophomore. The coach said Laird is strong and is “very good at playing with her back to the basket and bulldozing her way to the basket.”

“She’s the best shooter on the team,” Long said. “She’s not afraid to shoot, and if she gets a little bit of space, she’ll pull up and shoot.”

Long said Laird can play inside and outside and is a great shooter who knows the game well. Senior Shalom Emerson averaged 8 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals per game last season. Long said Emerson is “so quick and seems like she can jump through the roof.”

“She has such quick feet and a soft touch,” Long said. “I’m expecting big things from her this season.

“In practice, I can tell Shalom has improved so much. Her shot has gotten better, and her court vision is better as well.”

Other returning starters include senior point guard Tajanek Barnes and senior center Emma Driver, who averaged 4 points and 8 rebounds per game last winter. Long said Driver “consistently works hard and puts herself in a position to rebound every single shot.”

“Tajanek is so small that she can easily slip away from defenders before they even notice,” Long said. “She has to be able to score every night for us to be successful.

“I expect us to carry our momentum from last season into this season. We know what to expect, and even though we’ve made it to the regionals the past two years, we always strive to be better.”

Long said McCrory is always a game to watch because the two schools are county rivals. He said Brinkley and Bradford were the top two leaders in the conference last season, and another game to watch is the one against Clarendon, who returns to the 1A-5 Conference after being in the 2A Conference.

“Brinkley and Bradford are always tough games,” Long said. “They’re well coached, are always scrappy and physical, and they have good shooters to always be mindful of.”

Long said Augusta wants to compete every single night.

“When it’s game time, we expect to win and go out and play like it,” Long said. “We have the talent to be successful, and now it’s all about putting that talent into action. We’ve got mostly experienced players and a couple of sophomores who will contribute, so there is no excuse for us to be anything other than competitive and hungry to win.

“Our speed is a strength. We’ve got to be able to capitalize on beating teams up and down the floor. We have six players who have started or played significant minutes since they were sophomores, so they know what’s expected of them.”

Long said that with all the issues of the pandemic and unknown questions about how many games the Lady Red Devils will be able to play, or even if they will be able to finish the season, “I would like to encourage everyone to attend our games if it is safe for them to do so.”

“I would like to invite our Red Devils community to the games for their continuing support,” Long said. “We have such loyal fans, and our team appreciates the support.”