The 2019-20 basketball season is well underway for the Indianola Academy Lady Colonels.
Owning a 2-2 record, the early prognosis is that the return of four starters could pay dividends for IA Head Coach Allen Hill’s squad over the course of the season.
In their most recent play Tuesday night, the Lady Colonels dropped a 52-37 decision to Lee Academy in Clarksdale.
With this game behind them, the goal for this season is to improve on last year’s 11-14 record.
“We have an athletic group and hopefully we can take the next step in the playoffs,” said Coach Hill after last season’s strong playoff effort garnered a first round North AAA playoff appearance.
As for upcoming action, the Lady Colonels have additional non-district action scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday.
The IA squad begins a pair of road trips with Monday’s trek to North Delta School in Batesville and will follow up the next day with a game versus Washington School in Greenville.
All games are scheduled with a 6 p.m. tipoff.
As for this year’s squad, the Lady Colonels return the experience of Avery Daniels, Mallory Price, Jill Roberts, and Lizzy Smith to the court.
However, other players listed by Coach Hill expected to make an impact on the court this season include Shelby Landrum, Emma Kate MacLeod, and Lydia Williamson.
As for their district competition, Coach Hill observed, “We are playing in a new district with Winona Christian, Central Holmes, Carroll and Oak Hill. All of these teams traditionally have great girls basketball so it will be tough throughout district play.”
As for concerns about this year’s squad, the absence of a starter (Anna Berry Stevens) who averaged 14 points per game and seven rebounds was noted by Coach Hill.
On the flip side, Coach Hill feels the depth of the team is a real strength to draw upon.
In IA’s Tuesday night road loss to Lee Academy, a 20-8 lead after the first period of play help fuel the victory for the Clarksdale squad.
Leading the scoring for the Lady Colonels in this contest was Smith and the senior would drop a dozen points through the basket.
Daniels also reached double digit scoring status with a 10 point night of play in addition to recording six steals against the Lee Academy squad.
