The Greeneville girls basketball team returns some talented pieces from last year’s Class 3A State Tournament team but building depth will be the focus for the Lady Devils as they try to make a return trip to Murfreesboro.
“There is going to be a big learning curve early, but we have been there and done that before,” Greeneville coach Annette Watts said. “Those three returning starters are going to be so important for us this year. I think we have great leaders in Abby (Adkins) and Kyla (Jobe), and I know this team is going to be competitive, but we’ll have to see how we develop.”
Leading the way for the Lady Devils will be All-State guard Kyla Jobe who is coming off a season in which she averaged 15.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game. This year her role will change and she will be asked to take over the point guard duties.
The biggest challenge in that will be finding ways for her to get the Lady Devils into their offensive sets and getting the ball back so that she can score.
“With Kyla running the point I have to figure out ways for us to get the ball back to her,” Watts said. “It bothers me when she has to give the ball up, but it also gives us an opportunity to do some other things. I have really liked some things we have done with her coming off back screens. She is a great point guard, but I don’t want her to distribute too much. We know that we have the best athlete on the floor, and that gives me all kinds of confidence.”
In the post Greeneville returns a pair of starters who they will rely heavily on this season in senior Abby Adkins and sophomore Maria Lyde.
Adkins has stepped up as one of the team’s leaders, but she also brings a physical presence that protects the paint for the Lady Devils. More than that her athleticism allows her to score around taller defenders.
Lyde was thrust into the starting lineup as a freshman with positive results a year ago, but now with some experience under her belt Watts is expecting a big year out of the sophomore forward.
“I think you’ll see Maria is much stronger and much quicker this year,” Watts said. “She’s much more confident, and I think you’ll enjoy watching her play if she’ll come out of her shell. She has really dedicated herself to basketball, and I think she realizes this game can be a great opportunity for her.”
Matea Gray was an important bench player for Greeneville a year ago, but now the junior guard will move into a starting role. Watts likes her speed and athleticism and feels like she can be a capable defender on the perimeter.
Rounding out the starting lineup will be freshman Julia Woolsey, but Watts is quick to point out she is no typical freshman. The daughter of Greeneville boys coach Brad Woolsey has a high basketball IQ and, has the ability to be a dangerous scorer.
“Julia is our freshman starter. She has a pretty jump shot and a great basketball IQ,” Watts said. “She has fun playing, and I don’t want her lose that. She can shoot the three and rebounds well. Then she understands how to pass the ball.”
Off the bench the Lady Devils have almost no varsity experience, but they do have some young players that Watts thinks can develop as the year goes on.
Because of the lack of proven depth the Lady Devils may change up their style of play. Fans of Greeneville will see more zone defense from Watts’ squad and less full-court pressure. Pressure and tough man defense have been hallmarks of the Lady Devils’ style of play for several years now, but limiting fouls and keeping starters on the floor will be the focus this year.
“If I’m an opposing coach I’m trying to figure out ways to get those three (Adkins, Jobe and Lyde) in foul trouble, and we have to avoid that,” Watts said. “We have to be disciplined. I have to we willing to go to zones, and we may not be able to full court as much as we have in the past. The key is managing that rotation. I have to be strategic with who is on the floor together when we go to the bench.”
Coming off the bench for the Lady Devils in the post will be 5’10 senior Arieonna Barner and 5’11” freshman Gabby Atchison.
Sophomore Takiyah Crum, freshman Allison Hays and freshman Willow Aiken will add depth at the guard spots.
Last year the Lady Devils went 20-15 before winning the Region 1-3A championship and advancing Class 3A state tournament. Greeneville has advanced to the state tournament for three consecutive seasons.
Watts feels like the expectation this season will be to finish on top of District 2-3A, but she knows that the Region 1-3A Tournament will be a tough one with talented teams in David Crockett, Tennessee High and Elizabethton coming out of District 1-3A.
“In the district I expect us to be number one. I haven’t seen Volunteer over the offseason, and I know Grainger is better, but I expect to be number one. In the region it will be tough. Tennessee High has a great guard, and we know Crockett will be good. But nobody thought we could do it last year, and we did.”
