MOUNT VERNON – With a varsity roster that reads pretty much the same as it did last season, the Mount Vernon girls basketball team is flush with experience.
The Yellow Jackets only lost a pair of seniors to graduation from last season, so they’ll bring back most of their team. In fact, they have 32 players, including 14 freshmen, in their program and will field a freshman team for the first time in a couple of years.
Mount Vernon will have 10 players on the varsity, all juniors and seniors. Among the most noteworthy is top returning scorer McKenna Brokaw, who was first-team All-OCC last season. The junior is a three-sport athlete and an A-student who was able to use her time during the COVID-19 shutdown to improve on the basketball court.
“Having the extra time off of school, I was able to put more work in,” Brokaw told the Mount Vernon News. “Not having a spring (track) season gave me some time to work on my basketball, so I’m hoping to play better this year.”
That goes for Brokaw’s teammates as well.
“We’ve been playing together for quite a while, so we have that chemistry,” Brokaw said. “We’ve all had the varsity experience together. Now that we’re a year older, I think we’ll be better.”
To go with Brokaw, the Jackets bring back a pair of starting seniors from last season in Cora Lepley and Stella Bainbridge.
“Cora is a tough girl,” Yellow Jackets Coach Doug Savage told the News. “She plays solid defense, takes charges and (really goes) after loose balls. She doesn't score a lot; she’s a good ball-handler and passer.”
Senior forward Lexi Shaffer played a lot of basketball for Mount Vernon as a varsity player last season. Along with her is senior Levi Trace, who has rebounded from two torn ACLs in her career.
“(Levi) is one tough girl,” Savage said. “She's had surgery on both her knees and rehabbed both of them. That's tough work. Most kids would probably give up after the first one because of the grueling grind that it is.”
Junior Sidney Lyons came from Clear Fork last year and has adjusted to the Jackets’ system. She may prove to be a pleasant surprise. Fellow junior Emilee Burke played a little for the Jackets last year, building her confidence.
“We're hoping that Emilee will be one of our better 3-point shooters,” Savage said, “She can also take it to the basket. Also, if we can get her fouled, she's an excellent free-throw shooter.”
Junior Olivia Reddy played a lot of jayvee basketball last year. She is bigger, stronger, faster and more athletic. At 5-foot-8, she could prove to be another pleasant surprise.
Junior guard Mac Schlosser is a good passer and a solid defender, shooter and free-thrower. She's working on her 3-pointers.
“Very heady and very savvy,” Savage said. “She understands what is going on. She's a little bit like a coach on the floor.”
