The Cape Central girls basketball team will be under new direction when it begins its 2015-16 campaign.

In June, Garrett Pannier was named the replacement for former coach Sherri Shirrell, who led the Tigers the past 10 seasons. Pannier coached the Central JV team last season and filled in for a brief time on the varsity level for Shirrell. He takes over a program that hasn't had a winning season since the 2011-12 year when the Tigers finished with a 14-10 mark.

Central was 9-18 a year ago and ended its season with a 66-30 loss to Dexter in the Class 4 District 1 semifinals. The Tigers have gone 26-53, posting a .329 winning percentage, over the past three seasons.

"I worked well with coach Shirrell and enjoyed my time," Pannier said. "She decided it was time to step away from it and it made sense to step in. I knew the kids and it made sense so I stepped right in and it worked well.

"We can't make too many steps forward all at one time. Especially since we're so young, you've got to take baby steps before we sprint."

He means that metaphorically, of course, because sprinting is exactly what the Tigers plan to do this season. After years of a slower, more old-school approach, Pannier is installing a faster-paced game plan that he believes play to the teams strengths -- athleticism and quickness -- and attempts to cover up the team's biggest weakness -- a lack of size.

In order to get that system to work, the program is focused on finding a renewed sense of intensity on the court.

"A lot of them haven't played this style before," Pannier said, "so I'm asking them to come out of their comfort zone a little, which is a challenge for any high school kid. They're responding well so far, but I'm not going crazy about them getting it right away. We're hoping to build something and be able to put in some different things.

"Intensity was something we've missed the past few years, and now we're showing some of that. Now we have to learn how to play smart. It's going to be a work in progress, but we're excited with where we're going."

Central graduated its leading scorer and rebounder, Maddie Daum, as well fellow starter Abby Shupert. Now a lot of young players will step into the fold and join returning starters Kassidy Pannier and Sydney Tollison.

Two other seniors aren't currently on the roster due to injury. Moriah Terry saw some playing time in 2014-15 but a knee injury during the summer has knocked her out of action. She may return after Christmas. The prognosis for Bailey Manley is not as good. The only Tiger who would have been over 6 feet, Manley tore her ACL playing volleyball and underwent surgery a couple of weeks ago. She will not return to the court.

Tollison is also currently injured after picking up an ankle sprain just before the start of the season, but the team hopes she will only miss a few weeks of action.

The good news for Central is that their schedule is back-loaded, featuring only four games before Christmas. That should give the squad time to get healthier and to settle in the new expectations of Pannier.

"We have several games where I think we can compete relatively well and if the kids can get on the same page and believe in each other and what we do, i think we can make some noise in the second half of the season," the coach said.

Pannier, who also coaches the Tigers' boys golf team, is a 2008 graduate of Central who played two seasons under current boys basketball coach Drew Church. He was the Tigers' JV coach for four years and served a year as the freshman coach before that.

Players to watch

An offensive system that thrives more on pace than getting a particular player the ball won't highlight the individual, but a newcomer could begin making a name for herself. Pannier says that sophomore Abbie Reece is the best playmaker on the team when it comes to the offensive end.

"She's probably one of the only girls who I can give the ball to and tell her to go score," Pannier said.

The Tigers will also look to one of two returning starters in Kassidy Pannier, the coach's younger sister. She'll be asked to not only lead, as one of only a few seniors on the roster, but also knock down more shots.

"She's a streaky shooter and she can light it up, but on some nights she can go cold," coach Pannier said. "We're trying to get her out of her comfort zone so she's a more three-dimensional player.

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Class 4 District 1

Conference

SEMO Conference

Head coach

Garrett Pannier

(1st year)

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ROSTER

No. Player Year

1 Cassidy Gowen 10

3 Sidney Tollison 11

5 Jasmine Beard 10

10 Corrie Reece 10

13 Katelyn May 11

14 Falia Hamilton 12

21 Kassidy Pannier 12

24 Abby Dumey 10

32 Katherine Morton 11

34 Abbie Reece 10

44 Quetaja Martin 12

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STARTERS GONE

Madison Daum

Abby Shupert

STARTERS BACK

Kassidy Pannier

Sydney Tollison

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SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

11/24 @Naylor 7:30 p.m.

11/30 Fredericktown Round Robin

12/7 @Park Hills Central 7:30 p.m.

12/20 Kelso Supply Holiday Classic

1/4 Windsor 7 p.m.

1/7 Poplar Bluff 7:30 p.m.

1/14 Jackson 8 p.m.

1/18 @Jefferson 7:30 p.m.

1/19 @Chaffee 7:30 p.m.

1/21 @Saxony Lutheran 7:30 p.m.

1/25 Hillsboro Invitational

2/1 Notre Dame 7:30 p.m.

2/4 Farmington 7:30 p.m.

2/8 @Kennett 7:30 p.m.

2/11 @Dexter 7:30 p.m.

2/15 Neelyville 6:30 p.m.

2/17 Sikeston 7:30 p.m.

2/18 @Perryville 7:30 p.m.

2/25 St. Clair 7 p.m.

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LAST SEASON

RECORD

9-18