(by Don Meador, Allen County Schools, November 19, 2019)
A change is coming for the Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriot program—a
program which has won over 800 games in 45 seasons. New faces will be asked to
step into key offensive and defensive roles, filling uniforms previously occupied
by a pair of the program’s all-time best. In addition, the 2019-20 Lady Patriot
team will enter the season faced with offensive question marks and plenty of
uncertainty. However, a dedicated group of athletes is up for the challenge
that awaits.
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.