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Lady Saints basketball reload for coming season
By David Beall
With five newcomers hoping to make their mark in Memorial Hall next year, the outlook for the Lady Saints appears to be as bright as ever.
Four high school seniors and a junior transfer headline the recruiting class for head coach Buffie Burson.
“I'm really excited about the five we are bringing in,” Burson said, “I think all five of them can step in and play.”
Kiara Swanier, a guard from Greater Atlanta Christian led her team to the AA State championship in 2007.
“She has won a championship, and she can play point guard which is a position we really need depth in,” Burson said on last Thursday afternoon, “She is a proven winner and knows what it take to win.”
Victoria Peevy, a guard from Buford High School proved she is a winner as well, taking her team to the AA “elite 8” and a final ranking of seventh in the state.
“I try to recruit people who are on winning teams,” Burson said “I like when they have that state championship experience so they can come in here and carry it on.”
Meredith Montgomery from Hebron Christian Academy and Jennifer Ervin from Cherokee High School are two more guards that will make up the Lady Saints newest freshman class.
“It is important that we change up the team chemistry from a year ago,” Burson said, “I thought it was very important that we brought in enough people to do that”
Kristin Lipscomb, a junior transfer from Southern Union Community College could possibly make the biggest impact immediately.
A 6-2 center with two years of experience could just be what the doctor ordered for a team that lacked depth in the paint last year.
It is hard to fault any recruit Burson signs as she has coached the conference freshman of the year the past three seasons.
“You know it's always funny because you never know who it could be,” Burson said of the possibility of making it four years in a row, “I think this class definitely has the talent to do so.”
In 2007, the Lady Saints recorded just one road win in conference play, about which Burson said, “That was one of the biggest disappointments in my career.”
This statistic was in direct contrast to a year ago, when the veteran laden team did not drop a road game on their way to a 19-1 conference mark and a Peach Belt Championship.
After a championship season in their first year in the NCAA, a disappointing 12-14 mark and losing record was stamped on the 2007 campaign, something Burson hasn't seen since 1995 when she went 11-18 in her first year as head coach at North Georgia.
“I am just not afraid to play freshman as I think some coaches are,” Burson said, “if they are ready to play then they are ready.”
Burson relied heavily on freshman in 2007, giving them an average 17.6 minutes of action per game, which was second highest in the conference, second only to Georgia Southwestern who only managed to only win one game.
Who knows if another freshman of the year is in store for next season, or if another Peach Belt title is on the horizon, but one thing you can count on is this recruiting class will get the chance to make an impact on a team with high expectations.
Four high school seniors and a junior transfer headline the recruiting class for head coach Buffie Burson.
“I'm really excited about the five we are bringing in,” Burson said, “I think all five of them can step in and play.”
Kiara Swanier, a guard from Greater Atlanta Christian led her team to the AA State championship in 2007.
“She has won a championship, and she can play point guard which is a position we really need depth in,” Burson said on last Thursday afternoon, “She is a proven winner and knows what it take to win.”
Victoria Peevy, a guard from Buford High School proved she is a winner as well, taking her team to the AA “elite 8” and a final ranking of seventh in the state.
“I try to recruit people who are on winning teams,” Burson said “I like when they have that state championship experience so they can come in here and carry it on.”
Meredith Montgomery from Hebron Christian Academy and Jennifer Ervin from Cherokee High School are two more guards that will make up the Lady Saints newest freshman class.
“It is important that we change up the team chemistry from a year ago,” Burson said, “I thought it was very important that we brought in enough people to do that”
Kristin Lipscomb, a junior transfer from Southern Union Community College could possibly make the biggest impact immediately.
A 6-2 center with two years of experience could just be what the doctor ordered for a team that lacked depth in the paint last year.
It is hard to fault any recruit Burson signs as she has coached the conference freshman of the year the past three seasons.
“You know it's always funny because you never know who it could be,” Burson said of the possibility of making it four years in a row, “I think this class definitely has the talent to do so.”
In 2007, the Lady Saints recorded just one road win in conference play, about which Burson said, “That was one of the biggest disappointments in my career.”
This statistic was in direct contrast to a year ago, when the veteran laden team did not drop a road game on their way to a 19-1 conference mark and a Peach Belt Championship.
After a championship season in their first year in the NCAA, a disappointing 12-14 mark and losing record was stamped on the 2007 campaign, something Burson hasn't seen since 1995 when she went 11-18 in her first year as head coach at North Georgia.
“I am just not afraid to play freshman as I think some coaches are,” Burson said, “if they are ready to play then they are ready.”
Burson relied heavily on freshman in 2007, giving them an average 17.6 minutes of action per game, which was second highest in the conference, second only to Georgia Southwestern who only managed to only win one game.
Who knows if another freshman of the year is in store for next season, or if another Peach Belt title is on the horizon, but one thing you can count on is this recruiting class will get the chance to make an impact on a team with high expectations.
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For example, if Mr. Fill-in-the-Blank says something you don't agree with, don't tell the world that Mr. Fill-in-the-Blank is a no good dirty scoundrel who cuts off people in traffic and has owed you $20 since 1997. The Nugget asks you to please just stick to the issues at hand. That way we'll keep the debate lively, without getting personal. And remember, above all else, keep it civil and directed at the topic that's being discussed. We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
