The Lady Bulldogs are returning to a familiar face this season with Nathan Medlin taking over for Ariel Nickell. It seems like an eternity ago when Medlin came to Claiborne High to coach the girls basketball team.
Medlin inherits a talented team that has great potential. The team consists of Addie Brooks, Allie Jones, Genesis Bailey, Carley Hall, Emma Myatt, Hailey Sexton, Hannah Fugate, Ily Bussell, Jordan Fultz, Kylee Loft, Nevaeh Cobb, Taylor Pressnell, Katie Hicks, Channing Buis, Madison Ferguson, Daisy Bailey and Gracie Eldridge.
The Lady Bulldogs have some “bigs” to play under the basket and how they rebound will determine how far this team will go. Three point shooting in high school is a must and Claiborne has the ability to knock some down with Fugate, Sexton, Myatt and Jones. The returning Seniors will help bring a talented Junior class into bigger roles and help the Sophomores and Freshman classes find their roles.
With new classification, comes new teams to play and although the Lady Bulldogs left a couple tough teams in the change they still get to play some familiar teams like Grainger and Greeneville plus unfamiliar foes now like Cherokee and Cocke County.
Junior Hannah Fugate spoke about the new teams, “We really don’t know a whole lot about some of those teams but we’re Claiborne and we love a challenge.”
Emma Myatt also a Junior added, “I’m really excited about the versatility we have on this team. We can have five guards and five post players on the floor at the same time.”
The main goal of this team is to win but they also want to enjoy what they are doing and have fun. When asked what this team will bring to the fans Daven Ellison said, “We are going to run and gun on offense and press on defense. I would like to have you all back out with us. With Covid last year it was hard getting the fans in the gym but this year the players will feel like “normal” if you come on out and join us.”
Medlin will be assisted by Daven Ellison, Robert Estep and Danny Sexton.
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