West Muskingum Eyeing Back-to-Back MVL Titles in Girls Hoops

ZANESVILLE, OH

They’re off to the races at West Muskingum, as the girls basketball team is ready to run it back in the small school division. The Lady Tornadoes are in search of back-to-back division titles, and are well-equipped to do so this season, despite losing some key pieces from last year’s team.

“We lost a couple important players to graduation last year. I think they were probably two of the best players in the league as far as you know, on the defensive side of the ball and rebounding” said head coach Josh Middleton. “You know, we also lost Jayden Thornton for most of the year, possibly the whole year. Who I think is one of the best defenders in the league the last two years, starting as a freshman.”

“So we have to kind of figure out how to, you know, fill those role positions where, you know, with defense and rebounding and, you know, got to try to find somebody that’s willing to put those things first. And I think if we do that, we’ll be pretty successful.”

Coach Middleton’s squad is looking to reestablish its identity early on in the season before league play officially tips off.

“Well, I think the first couple games of the year, we’re just trying to, you know, kind of figure ourselves out. I think if we come out and we play physical, aggressive, play good defense, figure out how to rebound the basketball and communicate, I think from that point forward, we can kind of build on it and fix all the little things that we need to, but we just have to show up and be ready to play.”

Junior guard Debra Allen said “We just have to really work hard in practice and focus on all the fundamental things and boom, give them a good game. I think confidence is also a good thing, but also not to be overconfident. I mean, you have to come out, work hard and you can get beat by any team really. You just got to come out and play your best game every game.”

The Lady Tornadoes had a lot of best games a year ago, posting a 23-win season and a trip to the Division II regional final round in the postseason. But new players, new leaders and a new season will tell if the Lady Tornadoes can run it back this time around.