LFO girls intend to keep it going

Dewayne Watkins has every reason to downplay expectations for the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Lady Warriors this basketball season. LFO, which finished 31-4 and Class AAA state runner-up last year, lost two current college players in Ashley McKenzie and state player of the year Kayla Weaver, plus head coach Wayne Weaver, who took an administration job at the school.

So one would think Watkins, a former Brainerd High School star, would temper expectations as he takes over the program. But he believes there is no reason the Lady Warriors can't make another strong playoff run, and maybe even take that next step.

"They believe now," Watkins said. "When I first became an assistant here, I saw the potential. They first started to believe when they beat Carrollton to win the region last year. Carrollton had been ranked No. 1 all season long, and we beat them without playing our best game. I think we can get back there, and once we do we'll have a different attitude."

Logic says losing a player of Kayla Weaver's caliber has to weaken a team, and while Watkins admits his team has work to do in the backcourt, he feels more players are capable of contributing this year.

"You cannot replace Kayla Weaver," he said. "A lot of people know her as a shooter, but she was much more than a shooter. She was fundamentally sound. She had a very high basketball IQ, and that's very hard to replace. Ashley McKenzie will also be hard to replace. Those two players did the majority of our ball-handling last year.

"But we may be harder to prepare for this year because we have several players -- like Michelle Morgan, Madison Smith, Jackie Shaddick, Elizabeth Smedema and Courtney Crawford -- who can shoot the ball. And we have the best post player in the area in Jasmain Carey."

Carey, who averaged 13.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.8 steals a game last season, is prepared to be the main focus of the offense. Like her coach, though, the senior believes teams will be surprised at how much more versatile the Lady Warriors are this year.

"I think we have more players than last year," she said. "Some of the players last year were too shy. They didn't want to shoot or dribble. They know they have to step it up for us to be good. Last year we had maybe three of us who actually were part of the offense. They want to be out there and with the ball now."

Eight players return from last year, and each remembers how LFO led at halftime against Carrollton in the state championship game only to go scoreless in the third period and lose in a rout. Though the season was the best in school history, its ending left a bad taste for the returners.

"We were upset about the championship," Carey said, "and people don't think we can be that good again. Even after all the stuff we accomplished, we're still the underdogs. People are saying, 'Ya'll don't have Kayla anymore, so you won't be that good.' We plan to prove them wrong."

Teams to Watch

1. Northwest Whitfield: The Lady Bruins return most of the nucleus from last year's state semifinalist, including twin posts Quaneisha McCurty and Christy Robinson and all-star guard Baleigh Coley.

2. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe: The Lady Warriors lost player of the year Kayla Weaver and have a new coach, but plenty of talent remains, beginning with all-star post Jasmain Carey.

3. Gordon Lee: A young 24-win team from last year has grown up, led by all-star guard Holli Brooks.

Players to Watch

1. Quaneisha McCurty, Northwest Whitfield: The 6-foot-5 senior post player still is a dominant defensive presence and has developed a respectable inside-out offensive game.

2. Jasmain Carey, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe: The rebounding machine will be asked to carry more of a scoring load this year and has worked hard to prepare.

3. Holli Brooks, Gordon Lee: The junior guard is only to get better after erupting onto the scene as a first-time starter last year.