VEEDERSBURG — Coming off their most successful season since 2016-17, where they won 13 games, the Fountain Central girls basketball team will look a little different this season.
Graduating three key seniors, including Dakota Borman who averaged 18 points per game and six rebounds, the Mustangs will rely on a crop of underclassmen to have success this year.
Fountain Central’s roster features six freshman, six sophomores and two seniors. Second-year coach Jason Good knows it will be a learning experience for the first few games as his younger girls get their feet wet.
“All of them play really hard and I think they can help us this season,” he said. “They’re still not aggressive yet and are moving more side to side out on the court. We’re trying to teach them to be more competitive, and I think in our scrimmage Saturday against North Montgomery we made strides in that regard. We have some work to do, but I’ve been impressed with them so far.”
Larissa Bowers and Jerzi Hershberger, the two seniors, will be tasked with leading the way for this young Mustang team, and Good has already seen their leadership on display.
Sophomore Katie Brown will help Bowers and Hershberger with the scoring load.
“Katie has done a good job of learning how to get open and get the ball,” Good said. “Overall though as a team we’re going to need to hit shots when we’re open. We missed a lot of those in our scrimmage. We can do the right things to get open, but this game comes down to putting the ball in the basket.”
Good said another hurdle Fountain Central must adjust to is transitioning from practice speed to game speed.
“It’s easy to kind of go quarter speed when your doing things and learning them in practice,” Good said. “It’s a little different when there’s a team on the other side who is trying to beat you. Our freshman I thought didn’t know quite what to expect in their first live action, but as the season progresses and they get a few games under their belt, I think you’ll see them progress nicely.”
Another change from a season ago will be a deeper team. The Mustangs will have more players who can contribute right away. A season ago the Mustangs used primarily a six-man rotation.
“That’s going to be a big positive for us,” Good said. “We have some girls hurt right now, but it will pay off down the road when we get fully healthy.”
The Mustangs begin their season Tuesday at home against Faith Christian. The Eagles defeated the Mustangs 51-43 a season ago.
“We’re going to have to go and get after them and pressure them if we want to win,” Good said. “Our defense will have to probably create some points for us.”
