With every player returning from last year’s squad, along with several promising additions, the West Greene Lady Buffaloes will enter the 2026-27 basketball season with high expectations.
While the roster features plenty of familiar faces, the team could look a little different on the floor than in years past.
“We’ve had a good summer competing and working together as a team,” Lady Buffaloes coach Betsy Shaw said. “We have competed throughout our camps and play days and seem to be working together as a team while getting the younger players acclimated to the high school game. They seem to be on the same page and working on getting better each day.”
The Lady Buffaloes return their entire roster from a year ago while adding several key pieces from a successful middle school program. The combination gives West Greene reason for optimism as it looks to improve on last season’s 12-15 record, which ended with a heartbreaking 39-37 loss to Chuckey Doak in the opening round of the District 1-2A tournament.
Two of the most notable returning players are Payton Norton and Joie Shipley. Both earned spots on the Greene SportsZone All-Greene County team a year ago and have continued to develop through their experiences in the program. They will be counted on to provide leadership and help set the tone on the floor.
Norton, a junior, returns as the team’s leading scorer after averaging 12.7 points per game last season. From her wing position, she provides scoring ability on the perimeter while also having the versatility to attack the basket and create opportunities in the paint.
Shipley, a 6-foot senior post player, averaged 10.3 points per game while pulling down 10.3 rebounds per contest last season. Her presence inside will provide an important complement to the team’s perimeter attack.
Seniors Emily and Sara Justis, along with sophomores Erica Davis and Kahlie Edwards, gained valuable experience and logged significant minutes last season. Each will be expected to contribute even more as they take on expanded roles.
Freshman Karmin Gaines will be tasked with taking over the floor general responsibilities at point guard, directing the offense and helping control the tempo. Fellow freshmen Carleigh Williams and Michelle Rogers are also expected to make immediate contributions and provide meaningful minutes from the outset.
“We are going to want to play an up-tempo type of game, and I think our depth will lend that direction,” Shaw said. “We will have some depth on the bench that will allow for some much-needed breaks along the way. As long as we stay healthy, we look to continue getting better each day and hopefully become the best team that we can be at tournament time.”
The Lady Buffaloes will challenge themselves with a demanding non-district schedule this season. Among the opponents are David Crockett and Gibbs, while also facing Grainger and Volunteer in the Pizza Plus Classic at Grainger High School. At Christmas, the Lady Buffaloes will travel to Cherokee to participate in the Big H Classic.
Within District 1-2A, Shaw expects another competitive season, with little room for error throughout the conference schedule.
“We want to focus on our conference games this year because every team that we face presents a strong presence, and each game will be important. Johnson County only lost one player, while Unicoi County returned several from a talented team. Chuckey Doak grew last year and continued to improve, and we all know what South Greene brings to the table.”
West Greene will open its season on Tuesday, November 17 at home against University High
