Applying pressure

The Gentry Lady Pioneers lost just one of their top seven players from last year’s state semifinal team, but all-state selection Alyssa McCarty was a key component.

Gentry (16-2, 4-1 4A-1) is on a five-game winning streak. Lady Pioneers Coach Toby Tevebaugh said he felt like his team might be able to absorb the loss of last year’s leading scorer through a collective team effort.

One change Tevebaugh decided to make after playing some in summer camps was the Lady Pioneers might need to apply more pressure defensively.

“It kind of goes against the way I’ve played the last 10 years or so,” Tevebaugh said. “But it’s been good to us for the most part. We try to get after you, pressure you and turn you over so we can capitalize on some easy baskets. We just struggled to get points sometimes this summer.”

Shelby Still, a 5-10 senior, leads the way this season, averaging 17 points per game, but Tevebaugh pointed out he’s got five others who get anywhere from seven to around 10 points per game.

Still and teammate Brynn Cordeiro have both taken significant steps forward this season, Tevebaugh said. She plays inside despite being only 5-4 and has increased her offensive production significantly going from averaging around 3 points a game last year to eight or nine this season.

“Shelby has taken a piece of that pie that Alyssa left,” Tevebaugh said. “They have both just made a huge leap in about every area.”

Tevebaugh acknowledged his team might not pass the eye test.

“Watching us warm up, you aren’t going to be overwhelmed with our physical presence,” Tevebaugh said.

But Tevebaugh said the group is extremely fundamentally sound and play unselfishly.

“They are kind of intimidatingly smart,” Tevebaugh said. “They are all smarter than me. All of them have 3.9 GPA or higher. ACT scores average around 28. They are a highly intelligent group and easy to coach.”