MERIDIAN —
Quitman has finished just one game shy of the Class 4A girls basketball state tournament the past two seasons.
And now the Panthers have added Gina Skelton, which has guided 14 teams to the state tournament in addition to three state titles and four state runners-up, as head coach. So, it is easy to say this will be t Not so fast, says Skelton.
"I think you know I always have high expectations with any of my teams," she said. "And we have a great group of girls and with eight years, a very experienced team. But they're not experienced with my system.
"We're not where I want us to be right now, but that's OK. We don't have to be there yet."
Rather, Skelton is more concerned with getting the Panthers - who return the entire roster from last year's 25-5 team - comfortable in her numbered system and getting revved up for a playoff run. And that is good because Quitman plays a rugged schedule early including Forest - one of Shelton's former schools - on Saturday during the Choctaw Basketball Classic. The Panthers will also play perennial powers Southeast Lauderdale, Newton and Wayne County, which won two state titles under Skelton.
"I'm glad we're playing them because they will challenge us and make us better," she said.
And if the Panthers get better, that could be dangerous for opponents. Coming off that surprising deep run last year with basically an entirely new team, Quitman is already good. And most of that ability comes from a deep senior class led by guard Ameonia House. The guard led the Panthers last year with 12.8 points followed by fellow senior Tatiana Dobbins' 7.6 points per game average. Three other seniors averaged right at 5 points per fame a year ago - Kaci Sisson, Skyiesha Moss and Jalonda Jones, who has caught the new coach's attention so far.
"She's a great athlete," Skelton said. "She can and jump out of the gym. She's been scoring well in practices and our jamboree.
"Ameonia, she's just real steady and handles the ball so well and is so fast.
"But we're real big on being team-oriented."
And that will come in handy with a lineup that could go as far as 13 deep including freshman Shonte Hailes.
Those deep Panthers, though, still have strides to make in order to reach Jackson. Especially in a tough South 4A where Bay has reloaded, Richland and Forrest County ABs are expected to be contenders and where departed Quitman coach Mike Coleman has an experienced team at Raymond.
"The key is, one, rebounding will be very important and something we're going to have to work at," Skelton said. "Then, once we get comfortable in the system, it's mental. We have to be mentally tough."
Sports
Work in progress
Deep, talented Panthers adjusting to new system
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