Members of Triad’s girls varsity basketball team are from left, front row, Audrey Lightle, Mary Hasting, Holly Cole, Alea Ferguson, Kaitlynn Pence and Tori Thomas; back row, head coach Jeff Merklin, Bailey Perry, Cati LeVan, Abby Walls, Emma Vanninem, Makenzie Cauley, Kristin Bailey, Frani LeVan, Baylie Plank and coach Erica Trainer.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
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The Lady Cardinals of Triad are a team that hopes to do better this year after what can only be described as a year full of disappointment.
Head coach Jeff Merklin, in his sophomore year with the Lady Cardinals, has hope for this year’s squad as the Lady Cards will be returning all of their starters from last year, along with six seniors and what Merklin describes as a “good” freshmen class.
“One of the best things that we have going for us this year is six seniors,” he said. “Last year, we had none and I’m a firm believer that good teams usually have good senior leadership.”
Those six seniors are Tori Thomas, Alea Ferguson, Audrey Lightle, Kaitlynn Pence and Holly Cole.
Ferguson led the team last year in points per game with 10.7 and was followed closely by Thomas, who averaged 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Lightle brings aggressiveness to the team and provides some strong play on the boards with 4.4 rebounds per game.
Returning to the court this year will be Pence. She missed all of last season with a back injury and Merklin said she is a “winner” and will bring some depth to the team.
Juniors Kristin Bailey and Makenzie Cauley are returning as starters of last year’s team. Bailey earned all-conference honorable mention for her defensive skills.
Merklin will look to those skills again this year.
“I often matched her up with the opponent’s best scorer,” he said.
Merklin has four freshmen coming up, adding he is looking forward to coaching them after their successful eighth-grade season.
“We have three excellent guards in Frani LeVan, Cati LeVan and Baylie Plank, and a post Abby Walls,” he said. “I expect all to contribute this season.”
The Cardinals also have a Finnish exchange student joining the team this year.
Emma Vanninem has been “very impressive” in scrimmages, according to Merklin.
“Emma is a post who can also step outside and shoot the three and handle the ball,” he said.
Merklin said the Ohio Heritage Conference will be extremely competitive this year, with defending North Division champions West Liberty as the favorite.
The South Division will see several teams in the mix, he said.
Hopefully with the depth and returning players, Triad can be one of those teams that will be in the mix at the end of the regular season.