Meadow Heights girls preview: First-year girls varsity team plans to use all 14 players on roster

~ Meadow Heights will try to build on a junior varsity team that emphasized defense during a one-win campaign.

Meadow Heights does not have a senior on its girls basketball roster.

Of course, considering the team will play its first season at the varsity level this year, experience is not really something the Panthers could count on.

Panthers coach Mitch Nanney said he plans to use all 14 of his players throughout the season in order for them to gain experience.

"All 14 kids will dress every night," Nanney said. "Our expectations are we want to be competitive, obviously. I think at the junior varsity level, we will be competitive.

"Probably my most experienced kids will be the young ones."

Last season on the junior varsity level, the Panthers recorded just one victory but were in most games thanks to a stingy defense.

Meadow Heights allowed just 30 points per game but scored just 25 points per game.

"Our defense was very strong last year," Nanney said. "We stayed in games because of it. The girls are committed to playing good defense.

"The experience of last year will help."

Making the leap to varsity competition will be a learning process for the entire squad, but with the interest level high in Meadow Heights, girls basketball looks like it is here to stay.

Lurking on the horizon for the Panthers program are players from a junior high squad that finished its season undefeated.

"They're really excited and hard-working," Nanney said of his varsity roster. "They bust their butts every day. They know they have some good girls behind them. There's help coming up."

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MEADOW HEIGHTS GIRLS

Coach: Mitch Nanney, first season

Assistant: Liz Collier

Last season: junior varsity program only

Conference: Mississippi Valley Conference

Roster

Rachel Bequette 5-5 Jr. G

Skylar Bollinger 5-6 Fr. F

Courtney Brune 5-7 Fr. F

Ashley Doublin 5-2 Fr. G

Mindy Ellis 5-6 So. G

Amanda Hendrickson 5-8 So. F

Sara Hendrickson 5-2 Jr. G

Tora Jordan 5-5 Jr. F

Chelsey Kight 5-7 Fr. F

Riki Lacey 5-3 Fr. G

Kristin Mayberry 5-6 Jr. G

Sahra Mills 5-5 So. F

Alexa Suter 5-4 Jr. G

Lacey Welker 5-2 So. G

Schedule

Nov. 29 -- Woodland, 6 p.m.

Dec. 1 -- at South Iron, 6 p.m.

Dec. 12 -- at Chaffee, 6 p.m.

Dec. 19 -- at St. Vincent, 6 p.m.

Dec. 20 -- at Valley-Caledonia, 6 p.m.

Dec. 29 -- at North County, 6 p.m.

Jan. 3 -- at Malden, 6 p.m.

Jan. 5 -- at Clearwater, 6 p.m.

Jan. 9 -- Lesterville, 6 p.m.

Jan. 19 -- at Woodland, 6 p.m.

Jan. 23 -- Oran, 6 p.m.

Jan. 30 -- Delta, 6 p.m.

Feb. 9 -- Scott City, 6 p.m.

Feb. 13 -- at Puxico, 6 p.m.

Feb. 16 -- Valle, 6 p.m.

Feb. 22 -- at Kingston, 6 p.m.