The last couple of season for Oak Hill girls basketball head coach Darrell Compton have started with excitement, only to end with disappointment.
While a good portion of that frustration can been tied to youth and injuries, Compton is taking a wait and see perspective on the 2023-24 season.
“I am always excited, but we will see how it goes when we get out there. The past few years I have been excited and was kind of let down,” Compton said. “I think we will be alright. We have a lot coming back this year, but we are still young. I have three seniors along with all of the juniors and sophomores that have been in the system for a long time.”
Unfortunately for the Red Devils, the numbers have not quite told the story when it comes to the wins and losses.
“I watched last years games over and over in the off-season and if it wasn’t for one quarter, we were in about every single game,” Compton said. “That one quarter we just didn’t play well and struggled on offense. We still battled some injuries last year too. At one time we started three freshman. They were all good freshman, but the speed of the games got them a little bit.”
Defensively Oak Hill has been strong, but the struggles to get the ball in the basket have been the main difference between wins a losses.
The positive note for Red Devil fans this year, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.
“I have all three of my leading scorers back this year in (junior) Taysia Gray, (senior) Cara Smith and (junior) Jordan Harris,” Compton said. “Cara had some big games for us last year, but we need a little more consistency this year.”
Sophomore soccer standout Jada Wilburn will add a deep threat to the Oak Hill offense and can also run the point guard position when needed.
Fellow sophomore Kasey Compton can also score the basketball. Compton was off to a strong start last year before an injury sidelined her most of the season.
“Jada is just a competitor. Kasey started for us last year and the second or third game of the season, she broke her wrist. She was out six weeks and never really got back to that elite player she was prior to the injury,” coach Compton said. “She has been doing well so far this year shooting the ball.”
Along with the improved shooting, Compton looks for solid play from seniors Peyton Light and Kiki Kiszka.
“We have some good shooters,” Compton said. “Peyton has played all four years and gave us minutes all four years. Kiki Kiszka is our other senior. She is one of our smaller posts, but she is a scrappy player and her feet are really good.”
Sophomore Ali Williams is one year removed from an knee injury and is back looking strong according to Compton. Williams, along with Smith and freshman Natalie Craddock give Oak Hill a strong presence in the post. Compton also expects freshman Amy Hollandsworth to play quality minutes this year.
“We are big and we have good guards. We have girls that have played a lot of basketball and they are all good girls,” Compton said. “I think we played like 40 games this summer. They are a tight knit group and have played together for quite a while. I hope it all comes together.”
Oak Hill opens on the road at Greenbrier East, Nov. 28. The home opener is two days later when it hosts James Monroe.
