Shady Spring found itself in a transition period last year following the graduation of standout Kierra Richmond. Tabatha Barnes took the reins and the young Tigers bowed out in the first round of sectional play.
In her second year Barnes, a Summers County native who played under Wayne Ryan, is hoping to get the program back on track, similar to where it was three years ago following a sectional championship.
“We want our sectional championship and we will set goals as we go,” Barnes said. “We are going to take it game by game. I have that winning blood in me and I don’t like it. I want to win and I’m teaching these girls to take pride in that and want to win. Before it was just like everybody expects us to lose. We want to put on a good show every night.”
The Tigers have enough returners to make it work. Leading the charge is sharpshooter Kendra Pizzino amongst others.
“Kendra’s a really great outside shooter and handles the ball really well,” Barnes said. “One of my daughters, Kylee is back she’s the only one that’s started for four years. She kind of controls the defense and handles the ball really well and is one of the really great ball handlers we have. She’s injured right now but she’ll be back. She’ll probably start playing stand sometime next week. Getting back on the floor was a big thing for her this year. She’s really worked hard in the offseason. My other daughter, Austyn, she worked her way to a starting position last year. This year as a junior she’ll help out a lot. She’s pretty tough.”
The hope is that the experience of last year shines past the negatives and puts the Tigers in a position to compete.
“Last year it was kind of like throwing the whole mix together,” Barnes said. “So it took us a long time to start leaning on and learning each other and putting all that together. This year should be should be better. We got some nice things coming out.”
Barnes likes what this groups gives her and that’s variety and versatility.
“It’s hard to find a group of five players to put on the floor that all five are capable of scoring different way like they do,” Barnes said. “There’s not just the one that’s going to takeover and I think that’s a huge strength that we have . These girls are doing it together and that’s the big strength for us.”
Even if there are growing pains throughout the season Barnes won’t be deterred. She understands that the games don’t count until later on.
“The whole season is practice for the end,” Barnes said. “So we put in work on things as we go but I want for this team to have a better season than last year as a group and as a whole. I mean yeah, Kendra, she can check the basket and she’s a very sure shot. But as a whole they mesh really well together. They’re great friends on and off. I think you’re gonna see some really good team play out of this group this year.”
