Lady Indians anxious for season tip-off

Gaffney High girls basketball coach Stacey Parris hopes the old axiom that "defense wins championships" or in this case the seasonopener holds true.

The Lady Indans open the season today at Union and Parris said that defense will determine the outcome.

"The key will be to pressure them," Parris said.

There are a lot of similarities between the team, according to Parris. Each coach is in her second year and both teams are young.

"It will be a good matchup," she said. "I think the kids are ready to play."

Union already has a couple of games under its belt.

"This is a very big game to see how much we've improved," Parris said. "

In addition to Union, the Lady Indians non-region schedule includes Byrnes, Spartanburg and Boiling Springs. Parris said those games should prepare her team for the region.

Like last season, the Lady Indians try to force an uptempo.

"We want to play fast," Parris said. "But we want to be under control."

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 Patricia Sullivan at the two guard position and Kierra Phillips at the three slot.

Sophomores Paris Davidson and Ashlee Tate will start in the frontcourt.

They'll have help inside from freshman Tyler Cottrell.

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."