The Kosciusko girls basketball team had a busy summer, a very busy summer. The Lady Whippets went to four camps and played 31 games, the final ones last Thursday.
The camps were at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, East Mississippi Community College and East Central Community College. The record was 18-13.
“It was a good experience for them playing in a college atmosphere and playing against different competition,” said coach Cory Guyton. “It helped us all around.”
The competition included some out-of-state opponents. At the camps, the Lady Whippets played three games in one day.
Kosciusko is coming off a 12-17 record in Guyton's first year as coach. He is confident of improvement.
“There has been a complete upgrade from last year,” he said. “I feel they are hungry now and they see what it will take. They have hit the weight room harder. They have practiced harder. They see the writing on the wall and they know what they can do.”
One reason for optimism is a transfer eligible to play for the Lady Whippets. Jakyra Young, averaged 24.5 points and 10.7 rebounds for McAdams as a junior. “She's a good addition for us,” Guyton said.
Kosciusko also has two players returning from injuries. Amiyah Greer suffered a knee injury and Jakayla Seawood a torn ACL. Both missed the second half of the season and the Lady Whippets lost 10 of their final 14 games and failed to qualify for the MHSAA playoffs.
Greer has recovered and was able to play this summer. Seawood is still rehabbing, but Guyton expects her to be ready for the start of the season.
Kosciusko will have five seniors — Young, Diamond Rayford, Terrica Talley, Ariel Fletcher and Ta'Lynda Boyd — who are being counted on by Guyton for senior leadership.
Rayford is one player who has shown improvement. “She has improved her game a whole lot, defensively and offensively,” Guyton said. “She is going to be a big asset for us.”
There are also some talented younger players. Greer, Seawood , Bracie Jamison and Aaliyah Amey will be sophomores. “I feel confident of us being successful the next few years,” Guyton said.
The Lady Whippets concentrated on defense this summer with an uptempo man-to-man. “I didn't focus on offense because I wanted to acclimate them to the defense,” Guyton said.
He said the key to success will be team chemistry. “Believing in each other, believing in what they are doing. If they believe in each other, the sky is the limit.”
The Lady Whippets will compete in Region 4-4A with Choctaw Central, Leake Central, Louisville, Northeast Lauderdale and West Lauderdale. Louisville is the defending 4A state champion. Choctaw Central, a perennial power in 3A, moves up to 4A.
