The Highland girls’ basketball team is coming off a 4-19 record where they went 2-12 in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference, and while they have lost five key players to graduation, the Lady Scots are focused on rebuilding the team with a young squad that is hungry and eager to improve.
“We are excited for the 2023-2024 season,” said Coach Matt Bradley. “We lost five key players from last season, but our program has worked hard to fill those roles. We are excited to compete in the MOAC, which is incredibly strong year in and year out.”
Key returners are Amarie Morgan, Aubree Bellamy, Bryleigh Young and Kate Clements, while newcomers are Alexis Brown, Sierra Fitzpatrick, MaKaylee Merckling, Addison Mullins, Ellie Rhea, Reagan Maibach. Young is coming off a season where she averaged 3.3 points and three boards per game, and Bellamy averaged 3.2 points and three rebounds.
Bradley said youth and inexperience is an area of concern, as the team has only three upperclassmen which means it remains to be seen who will step up to fill holes left by the departure of Shelby Conley, Guinevere Jackson, Abby Jordan, Kameron Stover, Makayla Woods. Morgan is the lone senior on the Lady Scots.
Bradley is in his third year at the helm of the Lady Scotts, and his 10th year overall as a head coach. Other coaching experience includes seven years coaching the boys’ basketball team. He has been involved in coaching for two decades.
The assistant coach for the varsity squad is Anthony Wilson and JV is coached by Matt Downing. Bryee Guisinger and Matt Jones coach the eight and seventh grade teams respectively.
Bradley said the team follows “Three I’s in Team”: I serve others, I live with joy, I learn and grow.
“We hope that these core beliefs are evident in the way that they play.” Bradley said. “Our goals are to improve daily and over the course of the season, to become the best that we are capable of becoming.”
The Lady Scots kicked off their hoops season on Nov. 22 against the Fredericktown Freddies on the road, taking a 51-37 loss.
Highland travels to Northridge on Nov. 25 for a 7:15 p.m. tipoff. The first home game of the season is on Nov. 30 against Pleasant at 7:15, which is also the first conference matchup of the year.
