Last season was the first losing season for the Carroll Chargers since the 2013-14 season when they went 10-13. The Chargers won their first two Sectional games against East Noble and North Side, but ended their season with a 68-29 loss to Snider.
Although last season didn’t quite go as expected, head coach Mark Redding remains excited for this upcoming season.
“With an experienced team and leading scorers returning this year, I am looking forward to a strong season and a tournament run,” Redding said.
The team returns their top two leading scorers from last season. 6-foot-2 junior Lily George returns as the leader for the Chargers. She averaged 14.9 points per game last season, which led the team. She also averaged 9.5 rebounds per game, nearly averaging a double-double. George is joined by senior guard Jersey Paul, who also returns. She was the second leading scorer from last year (14.3 ppg), while also averaging 2.3 steals per game.
Also returning are three seniors and one junior. Ava Myers (junior) got a lot of playing time last season and provided 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1 steal a game for the Chargers. Also returning are seniors Callie Mitchell, Madi Gawthrop and Lauren Kirkpatrick.
With four players gone to graduation, it leaves an opportunity for the returners and some newcomers to step up and fill the void. There will be five more juniors expected to be on the varsity roster with Mackenzie Marsee, Megan Lanning, Kylie Gibbs, Stella Kruse and Olivia Hoch, one sophomore in Lyla Frey, and one freshman in Cala Haffner.
Redding believes that this year’s team will be more balanced offensively with so many returning players.
“This team is returning our top scorers and adding quality athletic and lengthy players which will give us the depth to play fast as well as full court pressure like the teams in the past. This team will be more balanced on the offensive side. Also, this team will be able to put pressure on teams for 32 minutes on the defensive side of the ball,” says Redding.
In Redding’s system, this team focuses on full-court pressure and causing turnovers for easy points on the offensive end. It appears that after a down year, this year’s team should be better suited for that system.
They open the season against Columbia City just like season, which will hopefully be a better result for them (lost 62-31 in last year’s opener).
WHY #4?
Returning their top two scorers in George and Paul, this team should score a lot of points. Last season they averaged 30 points per game between the two of them. They’ve got a ton of senior leadership on the team and returning players in Callie Mitchell, Madi Gawthrop, and Lauren Kirkpatrick as well. With another year to help install the Lady Charger system into these ladies, this team will be trouble for opposing teams. This will be an experienced team that will be able to go deep into their bench and score a ton of points.
KEY GAME
vs. Snider, January 31
After losing the Sectional Championship last season to Snider, this team has a mission this season to win their first Sectional since the 2020-21 season. The last game of the regular season on January 31st, the Lady Chargers will play the Lady Panthers right before Sectionals. That will be a great measuring stick for them before the playoffs begin.
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