Page 5 - TR Basketball Preview Oct 2016

THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASKETBALL PREVIEW | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
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JACKSONVILLE LADY TITANS
Lady Titans have talent, new coach says
MARK BUFFALO/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Senior Tarnesha Womack goes in for a layup.
BY MARK BUFFALO
STAFF WRITER
The Jacksonville Lady Titans are welcom-
ing a new coach along with their new mascot this season.
Former University of Arkansas at Little Rock standout Marian Kursh takes over for Crystal Scott. In fact, Kursh is the third coach since the former Lady Red Devils won the Class 5A state title in 2013.
Kursh’s coaching experience includes Arkansas Tech University in Russellville as a graduate assistant, eStem Charter School in Little Rock as an assistant when the Lady Mets won a state title, and as a junior high coach in Fort Smith.
“Jacksonville always has athletes,” Kursh said. “So, we’re just trying to provide that structure and create a system that we’re both familiar with,” referring to new assistant coach Asiah Scribner.
“We’ve got plenty of talent,” Kursh said. “We’re just trying to put it all together.”
A year ago under Scott, Jacksonville finished
12-15 overall and 6-6 in 5A-Central play. The Lady Red Devils lost to Vilonia 45-31 in the first round of the Class 5A State Tournament.
This year’s squad features 20 players.
Kursh said her best inside players this year in- clude sophomore Mikayla Floyd, senior Tarnesha Womack and junior Arian Phillips.
“We have a bit of size and experience in the post,” Kursh said.
On the outside, senior guard Allison Seats will lead the way.
“She is a senior with experience and is a great outside player,” Kursh said of Seats. “Senior Dayza Jordan, sophomore DeShundria Shockley, junior Shatorria Briggs, sophomore Martina Knight and sophomore Sharonda Perry are all guards that will help our program.”
Since Kursh wasn’t in Jacksonville last sea- son, she isn’t sure if they will exceed last year’s expectations this season.
“But I can say Jacksonville always has talent,” she said. “We are hear to pro- vide that structure for the girls to not only
be great players but to build character.” Kursh said her team’s strengths include quick-
ness, raw talent and experience.
“We’re building to one big family,” she said.
“We have a few new girls who have never played with one another, so we are growing to know and learn each other, coaches included.”
Realignment has moved Jacksonville to Class 6A, which will have the team playing in a blended conference with Classes 5A and 6A. Con- ference opponents include Little Rock Fair, Mau- melle, Little Rock Parkview, Little Rock Hall, Pulaski Academy, Sylvan Hills and Little Rock Christian.
Kursh said the only way for her team is to go up this season.
“We have quite a bit of seniors this year, a few juniors and a load of 10th-graders and freshmen with a lot of ability,” she said. “So there is a fine balance, but like I said, this is a new program that we are trying to build. The good thing is, the only way we can go is up.”
Jacksonville will open the season Nov. 11 at Mills High School in Little Rock.