The 2016-17 version of the Yazoo County Lady Panthers basketball team is in a precarious position that they have not often been in over the last few years
They’re in the process of building back up the program.
A once dominant program is trying to find the glory they once had.
And when you’re in the rebuilding process, you have to lean heavily on what senior leadership you have.
Yazoo County head basketball coach Patrick Nutter believes his few seniors will have to do a lot of heavy lifting this year.
“We’re rebuilding,” Nutter said. “We’re in the rebuilding process. We’ve got basically three seniors with experience, and that will have to be the focal point. The seniors will have to carry their load.”
Along with the three seniors (Deja Moore, Shanecia Weldon and Ciara Thompson), the Lady Panthers will be forced to play a number of freshmen and sophomores.
While many of the younger players are talented, Nutter feels that it is a disadvantage to not have an experienced team.
“We’re at a point where we don’t have a lot of upper classmen,” Nutter said. “That’s what’s hurting us. We only had two seniors last year, and we only have three this year. You have to build it back up to where we have senior leadership. You need six or seven or eight seniors out there every year. At this point, we’re starting three seniors and two sophomores.”
That does not mean that all hope is lost, however.
The middle school program is doing special things right now.
According to Nutter, that will pay huge dividends in the near future.
“Our junior high is building the program back up,” Nutter said. “This year they have 16 ninth graders. That’s how you build it back up. If a girl doesn’t play in the ninth grade, she’s not going to play. It’s not something that gets fixed overnight.”
The one good thing about a rebuilding year is that Nutter will have the opportunity to play a number of girls to see what he is working with.
“I plan to play 10 or 11 girls,” Nutter said. “I’m going to try to do that. We don’t have a choice. We’re going to have to play these young girls.”
By playing so many young girls, some losses will occur.
But Nutter feels the struggles could help once the important games begin.
“We’re probably going to lose some games early, I’m sure,” Nutter said. “We’re going to struggle early, but hopefully, when we get to district play, we’ll have our rotation set. We should know where everyone’s strong points are at by then.”
Despite it being a rebuilding year, Nutter will not settle for a last place finish.
He wants and expects victories.
“Our expectation is to win,” Nutter said. “Our goal is to win the district. We finished third last year, and we could be about the same this year. It will be tough. We’ll have four or five teams fighting for it.”
Yazoo County will open the season on Thursday at 1 p.m. when Clinton High School comes to town.
