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Boggs, Tyler Girls Look To Build Off of 2015

By TRACY WATSON

KIDWELL — As usual the Tyler Consolidated girls’ basketball team is getting a late start to practice due to what Coach Cathy Boggs calls “a wonderful problem to deal with.”

That so-called problem is the fact the Silver Knights are yearly participants at the West Virginia High School Volleyball Tournament, which also delays a good portion of her team from arriving for basketball.

With volleyball over, Boggs has her team assembled and will boast three returning starters and plenty of players who logged good varsity minutes last year.

Tyler Consolidated finished with a 12-11 record, but did get past Valley in the sectional tournament to advance to the regional, where it dropped a tough decision at Madonna.

“We had a positive ending to our season last year and we hope to continue that trend,” Boggs said. “We are also hoping to become better at playing defense and we believe if we do that, it will lead to more wins.”

But it isn’t all good news for Boggs and company who will need to replace starting point guard Katelyn Gogan and post Ariel Fish. Junior 6-footer Aleah Black, who led the team in rebounding and blocks last year, and senior Vanessa Templeton are expected to be forces underneath while junior Amanda Reynolds takes over at point guard.

“There is a nice core group of returning players, but we will definitely miss Katelyn and Ariel,” Boggs said. “Reynolds will take over the point and she can score from the outside or on the drive.”

Among the other players looking to start, or come quickly off the bench, are sophomores Josey Jones, Peyton Kocher and JoLee Walton along with junior Joralda Rice and Autumn Wells. Sophomores Alexa Johnson could see playing time in the post with Miranda Weekley and Cora Grimm both at guard.

“Josey Jones is just an all-around player,” Boggs said. “Her play is so consistent and she really sparked us to several wins last year. Peyton Kocher led us in 3-pointers as a freshman while JoLee Walton can be a force under the boards on both offense and defense. Joralda Rice is a defensive force.”

Other players coming off the bench are seniors Bailee Longwell, Rhianna Long, Isis Moore and Bethany Littell; juniors Belle Pettus, Kenna Smith and Julianna Miller; sophomore Emily Lancaster and freshmen Summer Miller, Allie Miller and Madison Craven.

Ben Thomas returns as Boggs’ assistant coach.

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