Lady Indians hit the floor running

Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Ashlee Tate is among the many returning underclassmen for the Gaffney Lady Indians this season. The Lady Indians open the season Friday, Dec. 5 at Union. Style points matter in college football, but not so much in high school basketball. That doesn't mean Gaffney girls varsity coach Stacey Parris doesn't want her team to play an entertaining style of basketball.

"We want to play fast," Parris said.

But she quickly adds, "We want to be under control."

That wasn't always the case last season when Parris' preferred uptempo pace resulted in a lot of unforced turnovers.

"We are more mature and more controlled this season," Parris said.

That maturity was evident in the team's four scrimmages.

"We did pretty well," Parris said. "We worked hard and we have definitely improved. We are noticeably more controlled than last season."

But the Lady Indians still will be young, with no seniors and seven juniors, including guards Keisha Leach, Kierra Phillips and Kiarra Morris. Leach will likely start at the point with Phillips at shooting guard.

In the post, junior Lacey Gardner returns. She'll have help inside from freshman Tyler Cottrell and sophomores Ashlee Tate and Parris Funderburke.

Parris cautioned that the team is still a work in progress.

"This will be another growing year," she said. "But this team has matured a lot and has bought into what we are trying to do. Everybody will be back next year."