Lady Tigers hungry for success on the court

Pictured is the 2015-16 Dupo High School girls basketball team, front row, from left, Reagan Carner, Mallory Koonce, Dakota Gill, Danielle Pennock and Cameron Foster; second row: Morgan Ragsdale, Kassidee Keys, Jessica Stansch, Brianna Leesmann, Savannah Maldonado, Micayla Koonce and Sarah Ostertag; back row: head coach Josh LeMond, MyKenzie Kloess, Leia Campbell, Megan Brown, Taylor Law, Rachael Donald, Liz Touchette, Julie Snider and assistant coach Matt Carpenter.

The Dupo Lady Tigers are rich in talent and determination on both sides of the ball, and that has showed so far in the team’s 6-3 start to the 2015-16 season.

“We want to compete in every game. The goal is 18 wins and a regional championship, plus more if we can get them,” head coach Josh LeMond said.

Dupo returns a number of key players from last year’s team that finished 10-12, including seniors Leia Campbell,  Rachael Donald, Savannah Maldonado and Jessica Stansch; juniors Megan Brown and Julie Snider; and sophomore Liz Touchette.

Campbell is averaging about 12 points per game to lead the Tigers. Donald and Brown are also putting up points on a consistent basis, each averaging about eight points per contest.

Brown has been solid at the free throw line, sinking about 80 percent of her shots.

Since LeMond has taken over as coach, the years of futility for Dupo’s girls basketball program are becoming a distant memory. The team won in his debut on Nov. 18, 2013, snapping a 96-game losing streak.

“The expectations have changed because they’ve put a lot of emphasis on hard work and hustle, and their desire to win and excel is a big part of that,” LeMond said. “The girls are a family and will do anything for each other to get their goals accomplished.”

LeMond said he wants his team to compete with New Athens, Lebanon and other teams on the schedule for a shot at the conference title.

The coach said his team is aggressive and tough on both offense and defense. The Tigers use a “run and gun” style offense, which focuses on its post players.

“Leadership and experience will be an asset to our team,” LeMond said. “We have good size, we’re quick and we come out ready to play.”

Some weaknesses the coach has seen so far with his team this season are free throw shooting and the occasional lack of communication.

“But those will improve this year,” LeMond said.

Key remaining games on the schedule include Jan. 14 at New Athens and Jan. 21 at home against Lebanon.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.
HTC web
MonroeCountyElectric300X15012_19