You cannot avoid the inevitable.
After four years and 3,000 points later, Gallatin County's Hailey Chubb graduated, thus leaving a void that second-year head coach Tiffany Sauls is looking to fill.
And while she admits those shoes will likely not be filled, Sauls is optimistic about her ballclub that went 16-11 last season, losing to New Athens in the Goreville Sectional.
In an effort to duplicate what Chubb accomplished and keep a stranglehold on the Greater Egyptian Conference, Sauls is looking at four juniors to pick up the slack and score 30-plus points a night.
Sauls has four starters back, all juniors and will compliment her lineup with two sophomores and six freshmen.
The four juniors are Gracie Sauls, Audrey Jackson, Molly Newton and Emma Brockett. The three sophomores are Morgan Oldhman, Raleigh Cox and Valerie Bourland, while the six freshmen include Hallie Zirkelbach, Addison Bean, Addyson Monroe, Megan Morgan, Reece Brockett and MaKenzie Russell.
"Our mentality this year has to be to score when we can, when we can get that good shot," Sauls said. "We can't afford to give shots away and then on defense, we have to show up. It will be a long year if we don't."
Sauls admits her team isn't big in size, but the defense has been a focal point of the practices early on.
"We are working on our conditioning and being in shape," Sauls said. "With only 13 girls and a good portion of my starters being juniors, we have to be in our best shape."
On the flip side, Sauls group doesn't have the experience this year ‑ or at least in the early going ‑ but she hopes this season proves to be frugal.
Defense has to be on point, have to be able to guard you, get the ball out of ball out of Audrey's hand- Gracie has to have more of a role.
"I beefed up the schedule with Benton, Marion, Harrisburg, Hamilton County ... teams like that," Sauls said. "On the upside, we're building and working towards the future. I'm not losing anyone after this year and I have around four eighth graders coming up the pipeline.
"I would love to see these girls finish around .500 this year. I think Galatia will give us a run for our money in the conference, but if we can get really good help from our freshmen, who are capable and our two sophomores, a regional isn't out of the reach. We're working extra hard for that."
Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois Local Media News Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
her lineup with two sophomores and six freshmen. The four juniors are Gracie Sauls, Audrey Jackson, Molly Newton and Emma Brockett. The three sophomores are Morgan Oldhman, Raleigh Cox and Valerie Bourland, while the six freshmen include Hallie Zirkelbach, Addison Bean, Addyson Monroe, Megan Morgan, Reece Brockett and MaKenzie Russell.
"Our mentality this year has to be to score when we can, when we can get that good shot," Sauls said. "We can't afford to give shots away and then on defense, we have to show up. It will be a long year if we don't."
Sauls admits her team isn't big in size, but the defense has been a focal point of the practices early on.
"We are working on our conditioning and being in shape," Sauls said. "With only 13 girls and a good portion of my starters being juniors, we have to be in our best shape."
On the flip side, Sauls group doesn't have the experience this year ‑ or at least in the early going ‑ but she hopes this season proves to be frugal.
"I beefed up the schedule with Benton, Marion, Harrisburg, Hamilton County ... teams like that," Sauls said. "On the upside, we're building and working towards the future. I'm not losing anyone after this year and I have around four eighth graders coming up the pipeline.
"I would love to see these girls finish around .500 this year. I think Galatia will give us a run for our money in the conference, but if we can get really good help from our freshmen, who are capable and our two sophomores, a regional isn't out of the reach. We're working extra hard for that."
Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois Local Media News Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
Gallatin County Girls Schedule
11-12 BENTON 7:45PM
11-13 at Harrisburg 7:45PM
11-19 at Hamilton Co. Tourn. 6PM
11-20 at Hamilton Co. Tourn. 6PM
11-21 at Hamilton Co. Tourn. 6PM
11-22 at Hamilton Co. Tourn. 6PM
11-23 at Hamilton Co. Tourn. 6PM
11-24 at Hamilton Co. Tourn. 6PM
11-27 at Eldorado 7:45PM
11-28 at Hardin Co. 7:45PM
12-3 GALATIA 7:45PM
12-5 at Goreville 7:45PM
12-07 POPE CO. 5:30PM
12-10 MARION 7:45PM
12-13 HAMILTON CO. 7:45PM
12-15 at West Frankfort 1PM
1-5 at Pope Co. 12PM
1-7 HARDIN CO. 7:45PM
1-10 at Galatia 7:45PM
1-12 at LEMWC TBA
1-14 at LEMWC TBA
1-15 at LEMWC TBA
1-16 at LEMWC TBA
1-17 at LEMWC TBA
1-18 at LEMWC TBA
1-19 at LEMWC TBA
1-21 at Wayne City 7:45PM
1-22 CARMI-WHITE CO. 7:45PM
1-23 DONGOLA 7:45PM
1-28 GEC Tournament TBA
1-31 GEC Tournament TBA
