PERRYVILLE GIRLS SHOOT FOR 9TH STRAIGHT TITLE

Last year, Perryville's Tiffany Perkins emerged from relative obscurity to become one of the best girls basketball players in Southeast Missouri.

Lady Pirates coach Vicki Lohman has been hoping that obscurity would provide another star scorer, but so far that seems unlikely."I've already put that challenge up and so far nobody is stepping up in that role," Lohman said.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing."It's somebody different every day in practice," said Lohman, whose team went 17-10 last year and won its ninth straight Jefferson County Conference title. "I think our strength will be developing as a team. I'm relying on all of them."Junior Jamie Amberger (5-11) is the only returning starter. She averaged eight points and six rebounds last year."I'd like Amberger to (take on the role of scorer)," Lohman said. "She plays well inside, but she doesn't have the confidence to step out and shoot it yet. Hopefully she'll gain that confidence as the season goes along."Amanda Schumer (5-6) will take over at point guard, replacing three-year starter Shannon Dryer."She's taller (than Dryer)," Lohman said. "She's a great passer. She's a slasher and she can shoot the three."Angie Bohnert was at one time a point guard, but has grown into becoming a starting post player at 5-10.

Stacy Baer, a junior, is likely the team's quickest player and will likely start at guard and junior Natalie Bohnert is another probable starter at forward."Stacy has excellent jumping ability," said Lohman. "She's also quick and hopefully we can press more with her speed and quickness."Other varsity members who will see playing time are 5-8 senior guard Kate Burroughs, 5-7 junior Andrea Buerck, 6-0 junior Jessica Littleton, 5-3 junior Brooke Winkler and 5-5 sophomore Amanda Nuyt.

Perryville opened its season last week in its three-team round-robin tournament.