Delta girls basketball showed some progress last year, jumping from just three wins to eight. This year the challenge will be continuing that climb while adjusting to a new coach and a new system.

A new headman will set the tone, but it won't be an entirely new face, as longtime Delta administrator Jim Gloth steps in to the role with the departure of Gary Poyner after three years at the helm. Gloth has been out of coaching for the last 10 years, but has spent that time at Delta, so there will already be some familiarity with his team.

He originally began his coaching career at Delta 21 years ago before going to Oran and Scott City for short tenures.

"We had trouble finding a coach with no teaching position, so I told them I'd step in and help out and do that," Gloth said.

He hopes his team will be able to feed off its performance last season.

"The girls played hard last year and made strides from only having three wins two years ago to having eight or nine," Gloth said. "That's a big boost for them and gives them confidence going into this season."

The Bobcats were young a year ago and graduated just one player -- starter Meagan Parker -- so there should be some experience to lean on. Returning starters like Jamie Hodge and Erin Bond will look to jump-start the team and work through the transition to Gloth.

While a core group returns, expect to see some freshmen make an impact as well.

The coach understands that it may take some time for his girls to get comfortable in his system and playing to his expectations, saying that the team's knowledge of the game and his schemes will need to develop throughout the season.

"We're doing some things different than they have in the past, so starting out I think they may have some trouble adjusting," Gloth said. "But hopefully by the time it gets close to the end of the season they'll start understanding some things a little bit better.

"I'm looking at doing things more fundamentally, playing hard and getting after the ball. That's what I look for them to do. Work together and rely on your teammates to get things done as opposed to having to do things individually."

Delta also plans on being ambitious this season by fielding a junior varsity team, something it hasn't done in recent campaigns, with the hope that valuable developmental time will pay off down the line. With 12 girls on the roster this season, the Bobcats hope those numbers stay healthy enough to take full advantage of an extra squad.

Players to watch

The Bobcats relied on a lot of young players last year and hope that continues to pay dividends, but one of the key players will be upperclassman Hodge. Gloth hopes to continue to see her embrace her role as senior leader.

"She's not a vocal leader but she plays hard," the coach said. "I'm wanting her to be more aggressive and more vocal this year, and have her step out of her comfort zone a little.

"She's dedicated to whatever she does. She's coming out of cross country and was a state qualifier for us in cross country. Anything she does she puts her heart into it, so I'm not worried about her as far as playing hard and doing things [right]. She's a team leader in that aspect."

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Class 1 District 2

Conference

Scott-Mississippi

Head coach

Jim Gloth

(1st year)

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ROSTER

No. Player Year

10 Jamie Hodge 12

12 Tamera Crowden 10

15 Hailee Rhodes 9

20 Alexis Mitchell 10

21 Lydia Borneman 11

23 Carrie Waddle 11

24 Erin Bond 12

25 Karlee Beggs 9

31 Macey Smith 9

32 Abby Cook 10

34 Cooper Simpson 11

52 Kiley Wicker 11

STARTERS GONE

Meagan Parker

STARTERS BACK

Jamie Hodge

Erin Bond

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SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

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

12/1 @St. Vincent TBA

12/3 East Prairie 7 p.m.

12/7 Lady Devil Invitational

12/14 Charleston 6 p.m.

12/15 Shawnee (Ill.) 6 p.m.

12/19 @Scott Co. Central 1 p.m.

1/4 Delta New Years Inv. Tourn.

1/11 Scott-Mississippi Conf. Tourn.

1/21 @Oran 7:30 p.m.

1/25 Egyptian (Ill.) TBA

1/28 @Chaffee 7:30 p.m.

1/30 vs. Lesterville TBA

2/1 Meadow Heights TBA

2/4 @Puxico 6 p.m.

2/8 @Scott City TBA

2/11 Woodland TBA

2/15 @Campbell 7:30 p.m.

2/18 @Kelly 6 p.m.

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LAST SEASON

RECORD

8-13