Expectations are lofty once again as the Westmoreland High School girls basketball program prepares to begin the upcoming season.
“At this point, the coaching staff and the kids returning who have played, they expect to win,” Lady Eagle 19th-year head coach Cherie Abner said. “That’s a good thing. It’s also a weakness of our’s, because I don’t know how they’ll handle adversity when we do go up and down. We’re not used to losing.”
The Lady Eagles reached the Class AA State Tournament last season, defeating eventual state champion Martin Luther King Magnet in the process (a win in the Region 5-AA Tournament championship game). Westmoreland set a school record for wins, producing a 32-6 record. The Lady Eagles suffered a 36-30 loss to Grainger in its state opener.
Jesica Eppstein is one of two seniors on the Westmoreland High School girls basketball squad.
One year earlier, the Lady Eagles reached the Class AA sectional round before falling at Creek Wood.
“We’ve come off two successful years, and we need that success to carry over,” Abner said. “This is the first year where I’ve had to replace all three guards. We have a lot of stability coming back, but the main thing is that we’re going to have to redefine some roles.”
Leading the list of returnees are junior forwards Kaitlyn Norman and Karley Smith. Norman averaged 10.6 points per game last season.
“She’s in better shape and more ready to play than she has been,” Abner said or Norman. “With her experience and her stability, we look for her to have a good year.”
Smith tore the anterior-cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee in the spring and had surgery soon after. She has rehabilitated the injury and expects to be ready to start the season.
Smith averaged a team-best 10.8 points per game last season – 17.8 points per game in the postseason – was selected as the Region 5-AA Tournament Most Valuable Player, was a First Team All-County selection and a Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State honoree.
“She’s been released, and she’s working her way back and will be able to start the first game,” Abner said. “She’ll be limited early on, but the more I see her, the better she looks. She’s getting better day by day, but to be in basketball shape and to be able to move and transition, it’s still up in the air if she’ll be able to work her way back into what she was last year.”
They’ll be joined in the starting lineup by the team’s two seniors – guards Haley Braswell and Jesica Eppstein.
“Those two seniors are going to provide a lot of leadership,” Abner said. “It’s their first year starting. Braswell is going to be someone you are going to have to guard because of her three-point threat. Braswell is going to bring more basketball IQ (intelligence quotient), and she’s versatile. She can play anywhere from a two (shooting guard) to a four (power forward).
“Jesica, her toughness is her biggest positive. She’s going to set the tempo for what we do well, which is play defense. She’s going to help us play fast and aggressive. There’s probably no other player I’ve had who can set that tempo like her.”
Junior guards Lexie McCormick and Gracie Oliver will serve as primary ball-handlers, and classmate Peightyn Gross will provide depth at forward.
Westmoreland High junior guard Lexie McCormick is expected to play extensively this season.
“Lack of guard experience and turnovers is a big concern,” Abner said. “With the adversity we went through with Karley going down and losing a senior point guard (Haley Cook, who wasn’t able to return to the team this season), we haven’t defined our roles. Usually, by now, our roles are defined.”
A pair of sophomore guards – Darby Bowser and Kailan Woodard – could also play extensively.
“They’ve made major strides entering their sophomore year to be able to practice (well) and compete for some playing time,” Abner said.
Abner expects Sycamore and White House Heritage to again be among the favorites in District 9-AA this season.
“Those two are the favorites,” Abner said. “I think it’s going to be just as competitive as it was last year. Who knows … we may have some surprises too.”
Westmoreland opens the season with a Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association Hall of Champions game at Hendersonville on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The Lady Eagles open the regular season against visiting Portland on Nov. 24, and they will host Cheatham County on Dec. 8 for their district opener.
Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.