New Era Begins for Lady Patriots

   AC-S is coming off a solid 20-7 season---a season that ended in stunning fashion. A surprise 3-point basket by McKenzie England enabled Barren County to survive the Lady Patriots’ bid to upset in overtime in the first round of the District 15 tournament last February. The loss ended the high school careers of two of the program’s all-time best, second-leading all-time scorer Sarah Sutton and a top-10 all-time scorer in Mason Towery.

   Sutton averaged 22.8 points and 10.6 points per game while Towery chipped in 14.4 points and 6.5 rebounds. Combined the two scored 1,005 of the team’s 1,477 points last season---68 percent of the team’s scoring. Hence, finding players to replace their scoring is a challenge for coach Greg Dunn and his staff, but a challenge in which several players are expected to step up and answer.   

   The senor class will include three seniors, Kaylee Bullington (5’7, guard), Allie Byrn (5’9”, forward) and Abby Willoughby (5’11”, center). Bullington appeared in 24 games, started three times, and averaged 1.6 points per game. Willoughby played in 23 games, made a start, and contributed a point per outing. After playing as a freshman, Byrn has skipped the last two basketball seasons to concentrate on softball.

   “Kaylee came off the bench a lot last year and did some really good things,” coach Greg Dunn said. “Last summer, we had three potential starters out and Kaylee had to play all the time and out of position. That helped her more than anything and she gained some confidence. She is now our senior leader. She is vocal leader and leads by example. During summer camp season, she handled the ball really well and got it to the basket. She is a pretty decent outside shooter. She will have to be on the floor quite a bit.”

   “Abby has a really nice jump shot,” Dunn noted. “She shoots a true jump shot. We see her playing a role for us and helping us when we need an outside jump shot like against a zone. We need to get her to play more physical.”

   “Allie is a pleasant surprise,” Dunn added. “She understands the game. Allie can post up really well. She is strong. Her presence will give us some depth. She has done a really good job since coming out in August to learn our system. I’m excited about her being a part of our team.”

   The junior class includes returning players Taylor Carter, Allison Meador, Jae McReynolds, Haleigh Steenburgen, Grace Tuttle, and newcomer Lynzee Spurlock.

   Carter started 25 of AC-S’s 27 games last year and showed signs of becoming a scorer. The 5’6” guard is the leading returning scorer, averaging just over six points a game. Carter also grabbed 3.1 rebounds as a sophomore. Carter showed her scoring, rebounding, and passing abilities at times last season---strengths she is expected to bring to the table this year.

   “Taylor stepped into a starters’ role last year and did a tremendous job,” Dunn explained. “She is now stronger and better. We are using her some on defending the post. She has a strong body and is not afraid to mix it up. She has a good basketball mentality and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. I feel confident that she will have a really good junior year.

   Another junior that started all but two games last year is Jae McReynolds (5’4’, guard). The Lady Patriots point guard averaged 1.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and just under two assists per game last season. A pair of injuries slowed McReynolds over the summer but the junior is healthy and poised for a solid season.

     “Jae has had trouble with both her shoulders,” Dunn said. “One was from softball, the other from basketball. Against Webster County last year, her arm was pulled back and she ended up setting out a couple of games. She wound up having surgery on one. Jae is now back at 100 percent. Jae gets after it all the time. She can defend well, handles the ball well, gets to the basket, and makes good decisions. She is going to have to be on the floor quite a bit. I anticipate good things from Jae.”

   Grace Tuttle (5’6”, guard) and Haleigh Steenbergen (5’6”, guard) are expected to be role players this season.

   “Both have shown a lot of improvement,” Dunn said. “I have been impressed with Haleigh. She is very athletic and can run. She will be a part of our sick-um squad, a smaller line up with more quickness. Grace handles the ball better and is shooting the ball a little better.”

   The remaining two juniors will be new to the court but not new to the program.

   Allison Meador’s story is both heartbreaking and refreshing. Two years ago, Meador was penciled in as starter for coach Brad Bonds as a freshman. In the team’s first scrimmage, Meador tore an ACL on the court in Lebanon Tennessee. What followed was months of rehab. Last fall, Meador was back and looking solid for Coach Dunn. Almost a year to the day, Meador tore the other ACL. Her sophomore season would be lost yet she stilled made most every game and practice cheering on her teammates. Rather than hang up her basketball uniform for good, Meador went back to rehab---determined to work her way back and play the sports she loves.     

   “If there is any kid in the world that needs the opportunity and desires the opportunity to play basketball, it’s Allison Meador. “Dunn stated. “Allison is looking really good. One concern I have is that we do not have strong outside shooters but I have all the faith in the world that Allison can do that from the three point line and in. She also does a good job inside on the post and taking the ball to the rim. We are praying and hoping that she gets the opportunity to play all year. So far, so good.”

   Lynzee Spurlock (5’7”, forward) has connections with the program, having played at the middle school level. As had been the case with Byrn, coach Dunn approached her in August to see if she might like to come back out. 

  “Lynzee has a really nice shot,” Dunn said. “She is also good at the free throw line. We also have noticed that she may be able to help us on our press offense.”   

  Several younger kids will be asked to step up including sophomore Chloe Cook (5’8, guard/forward). Like Meador and McReynolds, Cook is returning from injury. Last February, Cook was averaging 5.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in a season in which she had started 24 games. In the Metcalfe County game, Cook hurt her knee---an injury that showed her for the remainder of the year and required off-season surgery.

   “If Chloe stays healthy, I think she can be an impact player in the district and region,” Dunn noted. “She will be one of the top sophomores in the region in my opinion. When she came out of volleyball and into our practices, the level of what we could do went up. Chloe can run the point or play the post. She can play any position we need her to play. She is the most versatile player we have. She is strong, very competitive. I’m really impressed with Chloe.”

   Another sophomore will be Bailey Ausbrooks (5’7”, forward).

   “Bailey is very strong,” Dunn added. “She doesn’t mind to bump somebody and then get a shot up. She has the potential to give up minutes inside.”

   Hannah Coats and Olivia Colter complete the sophomore class, Dunn noted the pair will see action at the JV level to develop their games.

   The varsity team will see contributions freshmen Jaylee Covington (5’9”, forward) and eighth-grader Jayleigh “Bean” Steenbergen (5’8”, guard). Both were added to the varsity roster last February and both have been impressive in summer ball and practice.

   “Bean is an eighth grader that is ahead of the game,” Dunn said. “She has grown over the summer but still has a ways to go on defending. Learning to play with technique is an area she has to improve on but I anticipate her playing off the bench.”

   “Jaylee Covington is really, really athletic,” Dunn added. “She can run the floor as good anyone. She has shown a tremendous amount of improvement. She has a great work ethic. Jaylee can run like a deer. We feel like she can be special done the road.”

   Dunn adds that additional freshmen and middle school kids continue to develop.

   As coach Dunn starts his second year, he believes this year’s team could surprise many this season.

   “I think it’s natural that people around the region are assuming that we will not be as good this year with Sarah Sutton, Mason Towery, and Jaylee Woods gone,” Dunn admitted. “But, that puts a little fire under our kids. I talk with them about the history of being a part of this program, This program has a rich tradition. Yes, we have lost some good players but now, I have told them, it’s your turn. It was tough this summer and we weren’t very successful in summer camps. But, now that we have everyone back, I believe we are going to be okay. We do have a long way to go but, I think, if we stay healthy, we could be dangerous by the end of the year.”

   The Lady Patriots will again face stiff competition in the district. Barren County returns a key player in Campbellsville commit Elizabeth Butrum and Glasgow brings back a pair of solid players in Ashanti Gore and Ansley Atwell. Monroe County continues to rebuild. Region wise, Bowling Green, South Warren, Logan County and Russell County will be programs to watch.

   An intangible factor this season may be the Lady Patriot coaches. In addition to Dunn who’s won over 150 games in his time at Greenwood and AC-S, the bench will include former AC-S coach Garry DeWitt. Coach DeWitt retired from administration in 2018 and spent last season as the head coach of the Monroe County Falcons. Now, DeWitt has joined Dunn on the bench. DeWitt led AC-S to regional titles in 1999, 2000, and 2001. Overall, Dewitt had a 120-101 worksheet in two stints with AC-S. In addition, the team will be assisted by Billy Joe Miller, an assistant with Dunn last year and DeWitt’s assistant during his eight years on the bench as well as working several years with former coaches Angel Bonds and Brad Bonds. Together, the trio gives AC-S the most experienced coaching staff in the region. 

  AC-S opens the season on Tuesday, December 3, at South Warren.