Lady Cats Ready to get the Season Started
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The Harlem Ladycats have been scrimmaging each other and working hard in the gym as they get set to start the 2023-24 girls' basketball season. The Ladycats will begin their season this weekend at the Class B Tip-off Classic at Lockwood High School in Billings. This year the Ladycats will be led on the sideline by Derek Azure.
Out this year are seniors Tova Anderson, Emma Billmayer and Jasalyn Lambert, juniors are Jaden Blackcrow, Gracie Sanchez, Raelynne Briere, Araya Mount and Lacia Walls. Freshman are Aubri Flying, Maddy Mount, Tearia Sunchild and Kacia Boushie
The Ladycats were young a year ago and have a bit more experience coming back this year, "I have all five starters returning from last year as we lost no seniors. Back are Emma, Tova, Aaraya, Raelyn and Lacia. We did get a transfer in from Brockton, Jasalyn Lambert. She comes from a pretty good basketball family and is a 5'11" senior. Another key contributor is Jadyn BlackCrow, a junior, who is an amazing shooter, we will count on her a lot as well."
Azure really wants his kids to be in top shape when the season gets underway. We're going to run a five out and really push the pace. We got 11 -12 girls we can rotate in and out." The Ladycats have a problem any coach would love to have, "My biggest problem is getting enough minutes for all the girls fighting for time. Last year we ran a slower, fundamental style of play and this year we look to press and really push the ball on our opponents. We have a lot of girls pretty much the same size and play the same position. That way we can use everybody."
The Ladycats have had plenty of success in the past and Azure wants this year's team to get back to that standard, "I have expectations through the roof, but I let the girls pick their goals they want to focus on.'' When I asked them, what they have are pretty high as well, similar to mine. The Harlem girls have been pretty solid the past five years, and we have the athletes to get back to state."
Azure was sure to highlight his younger kids and expects them to be a big part of what they do this year, "We have a really strong group of freshman girls and a lot of them played varsity a year ago as eighth graders." Those who played as eighth graders had success, "Madison Mount made a game winning shot last year against Rocky Boy and is back, Keisha and Aubri Flying as well as Tearia Sunchild and Miley Bell who is probably the fastest player on the team."
Following the games in Lockwood the Wildcats will travel to Hays to take on the Thunderbirds on December 19. They will host the Dodson Coyotes on December 21. They will close out 2023 on the road in Poplar on December 22. Following the new year Harlem will have road contests in Nashua, Fairview, Wolf Point, Malta, Glasgow, Dodson and Box Elder. Home contests in the new year will include games against Box Elder, Hays/Lodge Pole, Poplar, Nashua, Fairview, Wolf Point, Glasgow and Malta. The District 2B will be in Wolf Point, The Northern B Divisional will be in Malta and State will be in Billings. `
