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Get to work: Lady Panthers have plenty of time, but plenty to do before district begins
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
The Plano East girls basketball team was emphatically defeated in its season opener Tuesday against No. 9 state-ranked Cedar Hill.
But that result wasn't necessarily alarming to head coach LaGwenna Morrow.
"We have a lot of work to do in the preseason," she said. "But our theme has been about getting out all the jitters. We want to get out all the jitters, get out all the problems before we get to district. Right now, we're all about progress and getting better so we can be prepared for the games that really matter."
"No, not at all," Morrow said. "I might be telling the girls everything is OK and then they'll say, 'look at the scoreboard coach, things are not OK.' But that is where we learn to get better; are we getting more rebounds from game to game, are we playing better defense, do we have constant communication? We can go back, look at the tape and see the areas we've improved as well as where we still have to get better."
Early struggles are to be expected.
In addition to graduating senior standouts Jordan Goforth, Destinee Drake and Paris Bridges, the Lady Panthers lost potential returners in juniors Taylor Jackson (who transferred to Frisco Heritage) and Kayla Patterson (who moved back to Ohio).
That leaves seniors Jasmine Caston (a Texas Tech commit), Celina Eddins and Jordan Welch as the lone returners.
"A lot will be on them, but it isn't all on them," Morrow said. "We don't expect those three girls alone to carry this team."
That being said, those three will contribute plenty.
Eddins brings outside shooting and rebounding to the team. She and Welch are both expected to be paint presences for the Lady Panthers as well.
"Jordan has been really strong from the free throw line early on too," Morrow said. "Which will be important if she grabs those rebounds."
Caston, a four-year letterman, provides versatility in the backcourt. She could run the point, something East is looking at freshman Daria McCutcheon and sophomore Aareonce Austin for as well, but is a better fit at shooting guard. Regardless of her position on the court, Caston will have a defined role.
"Jasmine brings that coach-on-the-court mentality," Morrow said. "She has knowledge out there on the court and the kids look to her. The key for Jasmine has been to not display negativity. And she has done a great job with that; she is leading with positivity and being the verbal captain of this team. Minute to minute, second to second, she is helping our younger players along."
Young being a definition that speaks to experience instead of classification.
"We have some girls on this team that are juniors or seniors," Morrow said, "but this is their first year of varsity."
One such player is senior Letty Bornstad, who has turned some heads early.
"Letty has some aggression in her that I hadn't seen before," Morrow said. "And that's definitely a good thing."
Bornstad is listed as a guard and a forward, which is apropos considering the construction of East's roster.
"We have some girls playing post for us that would probably be guards on any other team," Morrow said. "But having a number of girls that can play multiple positions and are interchangeable is something that could work to our benefit."
The other primary quality that will benefit East this season is personality.
"We have a good group of girls," Morrow said. "Their everyday attitude is already upbeat, so it is going to take a lot to keep them down."
The Lady Panthers didn't get down following their season-opening loss Tuesday and that paid off Thursday as the team started the Frisco ISD Tip-Off Classic with a 57-49 victory over Mesquite Horn.
But those two games were just part of a lengthy run before district.
"When they first announced the new district I didn't like the fact it only had six teams," Morrow said. "But now I love it because it means we have that much extra time before district starts."
East, which begins 10-5A play Jan. 4, has made the playoffs three straight years.
"I absolutely think we can get to that playoff level again," Morrow said. "These girls have enough talent and eagerness already, and they also have faith that we can get better, so hopefully that is the type of mentality that will set us apart."
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