Albert Gallatin girls ready to bounce back
Intent on bouncing back from a 2-20, 1-11 season, fourth-year Albert Gallatin Lady Colonials coach Dawn Spence is turning to “a more simplified offense” to provide a “better awareness of each other on the floor.”
With four letterwinners on a 10-player roster, “We don’t have a lot of experience, but these girls have been together several years and they’ve spent a lot of time in the gym. We’ve been having quality practice time and working on various drills to cut down our turnovers,” Spence said. “We’re learning how to take care of the ball and improve our passing. Fewer turnovers equal more points.”
Albert Gallatin’s letterwinners include senior center Lindsay Opfer, junior point guard Courtney Haines and sophomores Taylor Spence, a forward, and Ally Rudolph, a guard.
From her post position, Opfer averaged six rebounds and two blocked shots per game last year.
“Her offense has improved and we expect her to put up more points this season,” Spence said. “Defensively, she is more aggressive.”
Averaging 12 points per game last year, Haines was the Colonials’ leading scorer and earned all-county honors.
“Courtney is a great ball handler and can push the ball up the floor and deliver passes,” Spence added. “She creates very well and will take on an opponent, one-on-one. She gives us a big guard up top defensively.”
Like Haines, Spence, the coach’s niece, earned all-county honors last year, averaging six rebounds per game. Strong and quick inside with good post moves, Taylor Spence is “the most aggressive post player on the roster,” Dawn Spence said. “She isn’t afraid of contact and, at 5-7, is smaller than other post players and has the ability to maneuver around the bigger girls.”
As a freshman last year, Rudolph was the team’s second leading scorer, averaging 10 points.
“Ally is the best on the team at stopping fast breaks,” Dawn Spence added. “She can position herself on the ball and shut down opponents. She is a good ball handler and can go one-on-one against anyone.”
Senior guard Samantha McCusker came off the bench last year and is another “strong defensive player,” added Dawn Spence. “We’ll be looking for her to pick up some of the offensive slack.”
With “long arms and good defensive skills,” sophomore guard Diamond Madison is expected to make a significant contribution to the Lady Colonials’ resurgence. Spence is looking for Madison’s offensive numbers to improve as well.
“For us to be effective, everyone will have to understand their respective roles as individuals,” Dawn Spence explained, “but they have to be on the same page to function as a team. We have players who have been putting in the time necessary to be more competitive and turn us into a playoff contender. We’re planning to surprise a few teams.”
Albert Gallatin opens its exhibition schedule in the Fayette County Coaches Association Tip-Off Tournament on Dec. 9-10, and faces an early section test Dec. 15 when the Lady Colonials host Kiski Area.