MOUNT VERNON – Injuries. Cancellations. A quarantine that lasted four weeks.
After finishing the season with a 5-12 record, the Mount Vernon girls basketball players are ready to put 2020-21 behind them. And they’re hitting the reset button.
The Yellow Jackets bring to the table a new coach, new schemes, a new schedule and new philosophy for 2021-22.
Nathan Short takes the reins of Mount Vernon after 7-year coach Doug Savage’s contract was not renewed. Savage brought the Yellow Jackets their only conference championship in their history in 2014. Short is looking to bring the team back to the top of the hill.
Short spent four seasons as an assistant coach on the women’s basketball team at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He also spent time on the bench at Highland.
“I’ve been able to learn from some unbelievable men and women throughout my career,” Short said. “Some of them were from playing basketball and baseball here in Mount Vernon.”
Mount Vernon’s leading scorer, McKenna Brokaw, returns for her senior season. Brokaw was named Second Team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference last season after earning First Team honors as a sophomore. Brokaw just finished her senior year on the soccer team, where she earned First Team All-Central District honors.
Brokaw is one of six seniors expected to play this season. Olivia Reddy, who was named All-OCC honorable mention, is back, along with Emilee Burke, Addison Christopher, Sydney Lyons and Mac Schlosser.
Underclassmen listed on this year’s roster are Liz Miller, Kylie Parsons, Mia Rieder, Brooklyn Thayer, Nevaeh Williams, Alivia Bradley, Kaitlyn Dapprich, Ellie Jones, Cora McFadden, Olivia Schemrich and Taylor Trace.
Short brings to the team a focus on humility, hard work and hunger.
“The first two speak for themselves,” Short said. “We try to stress that each drill and segment in practice needs to be competitive. Thankfully, I have a great group of kids that embody these core values already.”
Last season, Mount Vernon finished 4-7 in the OCC. It was also unique in that, due to travel restrictions, the Jackets focused their nonconference schedule on nearby teams. This season, Mount Vernon begins its season with another local matchup when the Jackets host Centerburg on Nov. 19. The team also hosts East Knox on Dec. 28 and Danville on Feb. 8.
