Lady Jackets have new players in the mix

November 11, 2012

Unity.

With two newcomers merging with the talent the Starkville Lady Yellowjackets already have on their roster, finding the right chemistry can mean a successful season.

"We're coming together as one," SHS senior Kelsye Reed said. "It's not about the I, I, I, or me, me, me. It's togetherness. (Last) Saturday when our point guard fouled out (against Greenwood in the West Point Classic), we could have easily gave up, but the fight was in us and we kept going."

The point guard is one of those newcomers in Blair Schaefer, the daughter of Mississippi State women's coach Vic Schaefer. Another guard, Destiny Belle, is a transfer from New Orleans, La.

"We are fortunate to have some new players that are going to be an impact for us," Lady Jacket coach Kristie Williams said. "We have the guard play to help balance out Kelsey Reed and Imane Montgomery, who are working so far inside for us."

Reed and Kasey Jett are two senior starters for SHS this season, while juniors Montgomery, Schaefer and Belle are the other probable starters.

"They feed off each other," Williams said. "Blair and Destiny both bring a lot of energy and intensity every time they hit the floor. They show the other players what we need day in and day out from practice to game situations.

"Balance will help carry us through the tough part of our season. Early on, we're facing some great competition. To have that balance will help us down the stretch."

The Lady Jackets have already played Greenwood and Meridian. They look ahead to a stretch against Columbus, Louisville and West Point to close out the month of November before beginning the region schedule against Neshoba Central at home on Dec. 4.

Winning the region championship is a goal Williams believes is attainable and would like a trip to the Big House (a.k.a. Mississippi Coliseum) for the Class 5A State Tournament to be in the plan for SHS.

"With the caliber of players this year, we have a chance to make a run in North 5A," Williams said. "We're excited about the future for our program, so we're going to take it game-by-game and get better with every chance we hit the floor."