Lady Indians face busy offseason

Ashlee Tate is one of many underclassmen who will return next season for the Lady Indians. First-year Gaffney High girls basketball coach Stacey Parris is looking at the past season as a building block, not as a disappointment.

The Lady Indians finished their season Tuesday with an 8-13 overall record and 2-10 in the region.

"We didn't reach our goal of making the playoffs, but overall we have a lot of potential," Parris said.

That's because of the youth on the team. Next season, the Lady Indians could start three juniors and two sophomores. The backcourt tandem of Kierra Phillips at the shooting guard and Keisha Leach at the point will return with another year of experience. Both players will be juniors next season.

Rising sophomores Paris Davidson and Ashlee Tate both logged valuable minutes as freshman this season.

Lacey Gardner, another key contributor, will be a junior next season.

The offseason will be a short one for the basketball players. Beginning in March, the players will begin individual development instruction along with weightlifting and conditioning workouts.

Parris also plans to participate in two team camps this summer.

"It's a place to get away and grow together as a team," she said.

The conditioning sessions will allow the team to play a more uptempo style next season.

"We didn't have the conditioning to press this year like I would like us to," she said.

Next season, the Lady Indians will compete in Region III-4A with the likes of perennial power York.

"There will be some good teams in the conference," she said.

But Parris isn't shying away from the competition.

"Next year our top goal is to make the playoffs and to be in the top half of the region," she said.

"I like my kids," she added. "I enjoy working with them and I think we'll see a huge difference in them next season."