Members of the Lady Pioneer girls varsity basketball squad are from left, front row, Alyssa Miller, Katie Hooley, Evan Platfoot and Sharon Keefer; second row, Mary Ferrito, Nora Sheridan, Hannah Beach, Olivia Zuro and Natalie Heflin; third row, coach Scott Dietrich, Jaxsyn Murdock, Ellie Heisler, Avery Murdock, Reggan Gray and head coach Allen Eggleston. (Photo submitted)
The Jonathan Alder girls basketball team is under new direction this winter.
The Lady Pioneers are now coached by Allen Eggleston.
He replaced Steve Cawley, who stepped down last spring after four seasons.
Eggleston has several lettermen back from a team that posted an overall record of 15-6 a year ago.
JA’s 8-1 record in the Central Buckeye Conference tied the team with Tecumseh for first place in the circuit’s Kenton Trail Division.
Veterans include Mary Ferrito and Evan Platfoot.
The senior and sophomore respectively averaged 15.9 and 11.4 points per game.
Additional lettermen include Ellie Heisler (4.9) and Reggan Gray (4.2).
A newcomer to the program is senior Katie Hooley, who hasn’t played basketball since her freshman campaign.
Hooley, who is a top-flight soccer player, is capable of scoring in double figures on any given night.
Rounding out the varsity roster are Sharon Keefer, Nora Sheridan, Hannah Beach, Olivia Zurro, Natalie Heflin, Jaxsyn Murdock and Avery Murdock.
Beach, Zuro, Sheridan and Avery Murdock saw limited varsity action during the 2020-21 season.
Eggleston said Avery Murdock may be the newcomer to watch.
“Avery has a versatile skill set that allows her to play both on the perimeter as well as in the paint and the athleticism to guard multiple positions on defense,” said the coach.
“Our strength is the amount of experience we have on our roster,” he said. “We have seven seniors who help the team execute and play a mature focused brand of basketball.
“Our biggest area of concern is our lack of overall team size,” said Eggleston. “However we are hoping that our experienced play from our guards and wings will easily be able to overcome this concern.”
The CBC will be tough at the top again this year. There are multiple teams that are capable of winning the Kenton Trail Division.
“We know we have to play precise basketball all year if we want to compete with the Tecumseh and London programs for an outright conference championship,” said Eggleston. “If we play our brand of basketball we will be right there when it’s all said and done.”