The OHS girls basketball team has started their season strong with a record of 7-1. They are looking forward to district play. Senior Zoe Shaw believes the team has prepared in pre-season by working towards solidifying skills.
“We are building on our shooting ability mainly, and the girls that have started just building off of how they play, and then other players just taking role plays,” Shaw said.
With only two returning starters, the Lady Chargers are starting from scratch this season. Senior Sydney Glahn sees this as a positive for the team.
“Because we are so young, it has just been a lot of playing with each other and going over everything and reviewing,” Glahn said. “We are a completely different team. We play differently. We have different strengths than we did last year. I think we have
restarted, and I think it is going to be good.”
The Lady Chargers not only have a younger team, but a shorter team as well. They are not letting that affect their game play as they enter district play.
“The biggest challenge is our size,” Shaw said. “Since we are so small, we do not have a lot of rebounders and big girls, and I think that is going to be something we overcome in district play.”
Over Thanksgiving break, the Lady Chargers competed in the annual Charger Challenge. The two day event featured teams from North Mississippi. The Lady Chargers received their first and only loss of the season to Jackson Prep.
“We have been [playing] in almost Memphis, and now we are in Jackson, so it is going to be a different playing style and stuff, but I think we are ready for it.” Glahn said. “Coach Ormon says it is like the SEC of women’s basketball for Mississippi. Almost every team has at least one D1 recruit.”
Being in a new district this season brings a new set of challenges not only for the players, but for coaches as well. Cliff Ormon is entering his tenth season as head coach for the Lady Chargers.
“It is going to be some learning on both sides as far as the way we do as coaches, the plan we put in place,” Ormon said. “I am sure there will be adjustments as we learn what is best, but it is going to be a tough division.”
This is a major change going from playing against schools in Desoto County to now playing schools mainly in the Jackson area. They will start district play on Jan. 6 at home versus Murrah.
“We are going to get thrown into the fire, and we are really emphasizing putting effort in all the little things because those little things are what will win us those close games,” Glahn said.
The Lady Chargers toughest opponent is likely to be the Starkville Yellowjackets, who are now in their district.
“[There are] a lot of good girls teams that we are going to be competing against,” Ormon said. “Starkville is the number one team in the state right now. They are going to be a challenge, and then you have Madison Central, Clinton, Murrah and Germantown. They are all very well coached, so we look forward to the challenge.”
