KYNLEE PETERSON swatted the shot for the block. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
CORA SHETLEY will lead the court as a senior. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
ELLA KIRK (left) high-fives Olivia Barton (right). Photo by Wyatt Hardy
AVA HAYES (left) hits a jumper over Ella Kirk (right). Photo by Wyatt Hardy
KARLEE HEAD (left) will be a returning sophomore. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
HUDDLE UP. Head coach Jordan Flora draws up a play with the Lady Eagles during a scrimmage. Photo by Wyatt Hardy

Girls Basketball Tips Off A New Year

Sun, 11/24/2024 - 1:50pm

Wyatt Hardy

Sullivan’s motto this season is for every player to give 100% each time they step onto the court. Head coach Jordan Flora explained, “We want to be the hardest-working team on the floor every night. And at the end of the day, if we left it all out—win or lose—we can be okay with that.”

The Lady Eagles get back into a rhythm at the Borgia Jamboree on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m.

Sullivan will tip off the regular season against St. Dominic at home on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m.

The following week, the Lady Eagles will compete in DeSoto’s Fountain City Classic (Dec. 2-7). Sullivan finishes the month with their home Peoples Bank Holiday Classic.

The Lady Eagles’ next tournament is in Hillsboro; they will cap off the regular season in conference play and then battle Washington at home.

Flora is excited to see what this young group will bring to the floor this season. He stated, “These guys are going to work hard, and they’ll make up for it [with] their effort.”

Sullivan will add five new starters who made a splash on junior varsity last year. Sophomores Olivia Barton, Ava Hayes, Ella Kirk, Sydney Montee and Lily Schmuke earned varsity spots for “making a pretty big impact” in practices.

Flora also looks forward to seeing junior Katie Miller join the lineup, stating that “she’s been a good little addition to our team.”

Junior Avery Merkel and sophomores Karlee Head and Kynlee Peterson will return to dominate the court.

Seniors Molly Lohden and Cora Shetley will be in charge of leading the young guns.

Flora expects Sullivan to “be a little more aggressive on the defensive end” and play faster. He explained, “With these girls being younger and athletic, they’re quick and they’re smart. And we already have some depth… We can kind of get up and down a little bit more.”

The coach described his team’s chemistry as like a “family.” He stated, “You pick each other up, and [if] somebody struggles, that’s okay because the next one steps up and helps.

The Lady Eagles have built their tight-knit connection over the past few months. They developed it in shootout tournaments over the summer, which included a trip to Branson.

Flora said that Sullivan’s key to success is being the best team in all 32 minutes. He believes they have the right attitude to achieve this. “Everybody’s excited, and everybody’s buying in and working hard,” the coach remarked. “It builds a team, it builds chemistry and it builds excitement.”

Varsity Schedule

11/26 vs. St. Dominic - 7 p.m.

12/2-7 @ 9th Annual Fountain City Classic (DeSoto)

12/9 @ Warrenton - 7 p.m.

12/13 @ Fox - 6 p.m.

12/16-20 @ Peoples Bank Holiday Classic (Home)

1/7 vs. Salem - 7 p.m.

1/9 @ Crocker - 7:30 p.m.

1/14 @ Jefferson (Festus) - 7 p.m.

1/16 @ Cuba with Viburnum - 6 p.m.

1/21 vs. Northwest (Cedar Hill) - 7 p.m.

1/23 @ Capital City - 7:15 p.m.