2009-10 Cape Central Girls Basketball Preview

A year after falling to Poplar Bluff in the Class 5 District 1 title game, the Central Tigers return three starters and are ready to make an other run at a district crown.

"We are expecting a lot of wins," Central coach Sherri Shirrell said. "We are going to play with intensity and very hard. We have quite a bit of quickness. We should be a pretty good ballclub this year."

The Tigers return seniors Farrah Malik and Sadie Pittman along with junior Chelsea Pan nier from last year's starting lineup.

They also boast four other seniors -- Starr Harris, Paige Smith, Crystal Vinson and Mi chaela Durham.

Along with Pannier, Shirrell's lineup fea tures three other juniors, two sophomores and a freshman.

Even with some youth in the lineup, experience should prove to be a guiding hand in the upcoming season.

"We've got six seniors," Shirrell said. "Experience is worth a lot. They play well and gel well together. All these years of playing together is going to benefit them."

While the Tigers only managed an 11-13 record last season, Shirrell is confident that they have the ingredients to be a winning program. Their transition game is going to have to be a weapon for them to be successful, but Shirrell isn't worried about her team's ability to push the tempo.

"Our strong point is our quickness and experience," Shirrell said. "Pittman is one of the quickest guards in the area, and we're going to push the ball down the floor."

If the Tigers want to improve on last year's record, they will need to get better defensively. Shirrell knows the Tigers have a weakness on the defensive end of the floor and is deter mined to make it one of their top priorities this season.

"We need to get better defensively," Shirrell said. "That is our key."

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Coach: Sherri Shirrell, fifth season

Last season's record: 11-13

Returning starters: Farrah Malik, sr.; Sadie Pittman, sr.; Chelsea Pannier, jr.

Other key players: Starr Harris, sr.; Paige Smith, sr.; Crystal Vinson, sr.; Chelsea Vinson, fr.

Remainder of roster: Allie Hardesty, so.; Tynesha Ivy, jr.; Amy Kinnison, jr.; Brittany Perkins, so.; Carlee Reaves, jr.