Kelly Girls Basketball Preview

Conference: Scott-Mississippi

Coach: Rod McQuerter, 17th year

District: Class 3 District 2

Schedule:

Date Day of Week Opponent Location Time

December 2, 2014 Tuesday Malden Home 6 p.m.

December 8-13, 2014 Monday-Saturday Lady Red Devils Invitational Tournament Chaffee TBA

December 15, 2014 Monday East Prairie Home 6 p.m.

December 16, 2014 Tuesday Portageville Home 6 p.m.

December 18-23, 2014 Thursday-Tuesday Twin Rivers Lady Royals Christmas Classic Twin Rivers TBA

January 5, 2015 Monday Chaffee Away 6 p.m.

January 8, 2015 Thursday Meridian (Mounds, Ill.) Away 6 p.m.

January 12-16, 2015 Monday-Friday Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament Kelly TBA

January 19, 2015 Monday Scott City Home 6 p.m.

January 22, 2015 Thursday Puxico Away 6 p.m.

January 29, 2015 Thursday Oran Home 6 p.m.

January 30, 2015 Friday Campbell Away 6 p.m.

February 2, 2015 Monday Charleston Away 6 p.m.

February 3, 2015 Tuesday Caruthersville Home 6 p.m.

February 9, 2015 Monday Puxico Home 6 p.m.

February 12, 2015 Thursday New Madrid County Central Home 6 p.m.

February 16, 2015 Monday Scott County Central Home 6 p.m.

February 19, 2015 Thursday Delta Away 6 p.m.

Roster:

No. Player Year

1 Bethany Knight 12

4 Emily Bolen 10

5 Tori Duenne 11

11 Morgan LeDure 12

14 Marissa Jones 10

15 Kaylee Scherer 12

20 Tessa Johnson 12

21 Stephanie Worth 12

23 Logan Ivie 12

24 Kristi Brucker 12

25 Tiffany Gibson 12

30 Dakaria Johnson 12

32 Allisyn Holifield 11

34 Aleisha Kelley 12

35 Anna Hughes 10

Returning starters: Tessa Johnson, Stephanie Worth, Kristi Brucker, Morgan LeDure, Logan Ivie

Starters lost: Payton Jones

Last year's record: 17-8

Postseason result: Lost to New Madrid County Central 56-52 in district first round

Team outlook

There's plenty of optimism with the Kelly girls basketball team this season.

Entering his 17th year as the Hawks' coach, Rod McQuerter isn't asking for much from his squad. His message is positivity, and he hopes the rest will follow.

"The main thing we want to carry over is to continue to have a positive attitude," McQuerter said. "That's our main goal, to carry that attitude of being very positive and supporting each oher. If we have a positive attitude, everything else will follow."

A total of 10 seniors will lead Kelly this season, including returning starters Tessa Johnson, Stephanie Worth, Kristi Brucker, Morgan LeDure and Logan Ivie.

Payton Jones is the only player graduated from last year's squad.

McQuerter is excited about what he's seen from his team so far this season.

"The main thing I've seen from this team is they're focusing on playing as a team," McQuerter said. "... Their attitude's been tremendous. They have a very good attitude. They want to be here. I'm very blessed. We have 28 girls playing basketball this year for our program, and that's a great number to have. That just lets you know that it's all because of our seniors. To have 28 girls on a basketball team that all have a positive attitude and play as a team, what more could you ask for?"

McQuerter said the team's main goal is simple -- just have fun.

"Our long-term goal is to enjoy the journey. Let's not focus on anything else but enjoy the journey, and that's what we do every day," McQuerter said. "We enjoy each other in practice. We do things on the weekends together. We have a great time as a team. A lot of people focus on basketball things, but we focus on things that will last forever, which is enjoying your relationships with each other. Basketball's going to come and go, but the relationships that these girls develop will last forever."

District breakdown

Class 3 Kelly will make the jump from District 1 to District 2.

Joining the Hawks will be Charleston and East Prairie, while St. Pius X, West County and Jefferson head to District 3.

The rest of District 2 features Saxony Lutheran, Arcadia, Clearwater, Woodland and Scott City.

McQuerter said Kelly made great strides near the end of last season, which could greatly benefit them in this year's postseason.

"The girls improved tremendously last year. You've got to remember, they were just juniors. They had to learn. The main thing they improved on is they started playing as a team. That was the main thing," McQuerter said. "... We focused on the fundamentals. The girls started doing the little things."

Looking back

The Hawks wrapped up last year with a 17-8 record but dropped a 56-52 decision against New Madrid County Central in the opening round of the district tournament.

McQuerter believes his team is communicating much better this season, which should pay dividends when the postseason rolls around.

"It may be minor to a lot of other people, but the main thing I've seen is their communication with each other. I always tell the girls, 'Communication eliminates confusion,' and they communicate well this year. They talk to each other," McQuerter said. "... That makes it easier when the game starts. If you communicate, good things will happen."

-- Trent Singer