The past few seasons have been difficult for fans of the Scott City girls basketball team, but head coach Kerry Thompson believes better things are on the Rams' horizon.

Thompson welcomes 10 underclassmen to his roster this season, and he hopes their youthful exuberance plays a key role in improving on last season's 2-18 record.

"They play hard every day," Thompson said of his squad, which features just two returning starters among its three seniors. "I've been impressed with that."

The Rams lost seven seniors from last year's team, which means Thompson will be counting on several new faces to make key contributions.

Getting those underclassmen to meld with the returning players is Thompson's main goal heading into the season.

Thompson will look for production from a trio of freshmen -- Chloie Raines, Paige Cummins and Courtney Enderle -- to complement the Rams' returning players.

He likes what he sees from his early-season practices. He said the new players are beginning to blend in well.

"I think so far they have," he said. "They've done everything we've asked of them. Every practice has gotten better.

"We play hard, and we're learning more every day."

Players to watch

Guard Hannah Shenonia and forward Bella Bowers are the only returning starters for the Rams, who fell to Arcadia Valley in their district opener to close last season.

Thompson isn't counting on any one player to carry the Rams this season; rather, he's hoping for every player on the roster to contribute in any way she can.

"I don't think it will come from one person," he said. "It will be a total team effort."

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Class 3 District 2

Conference

Scott-Mississippi

Head coach

Kerry Thompson

(1st year)

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ROSTER

Player Year

Diamond Ham 9

Emma Wilhelm 9

Britne Parker 9

Rylee Venable 9

Courtney Enderle 9

Paige Cummins 9

Chloie Raines 9

Faith Grant 10

Katie Smith 10

Paige Nanney 10

Tori Buckner 11

Ginny Mott 11

Hannah Shemonia 12

Morgan Pettit 12

Bella Bowers 12

STARTERS GONE

Anna Kern

Michaela Kiefer

Carly Howell

STARTERS BACK

Hannah Shemonia

Bella Bowers

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SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

11/23 East Carter County 6 p.m.

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

11/30 Chaffee 7:30 p.m.

12/3 @Charleston 7:30 p.m.

12/7 Lady Devil Invitational

12/14 @Woodland 7:30 p.m.

1/4 @St. Paul Lutheran 6 p.m.

1/11 Scott-Mississippi Conf. Tourn.

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

1/21 @Scott Co. Central 7:30 p.m.

1/25 Puxico 7:30 p.m.

1/28 @Saxony Lutheran 7:30 p.m.

1/30 vs. Hayti 11 a.m.

2/1 East Prairie 7:30 p.m.

2/4 Sikeston 7:30 p.m.

2/8 Delta 7:30 p.m.

2/9 Perryville 7:30 p.m.

2/10 @Meadow Heights 7:30 p.m.

2/17 @St. Vincent 7:30 p.m.

2/18 Oran 7:30 p.m.

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LAST SEASON

RECORD

2-19