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NEW MARTINSVILLE -- The 2021 basketball campaign and the summer that followed was all about gaining experience for the Magnolia girls' basketball team.
Blue Eagles' coach Kasey Sapp feels his squad took full advantage of that time and hopes it shows on the court in the upcoming season.
"Last season was really important to us from an experience standpoint," Sapp said. "We took our lumps early but saw growth by the end of the year. The most important thing we got out of last season was meaningful varsity experience for a lot of our returners this year. Then, our major focus going into the offseason was to try to get another year of experience under our belts during the summer with leagues and shootouts."
Three players who will not be returning to this year's group are graduates Jazlyn Ingold, Tamia Smith and starter Abby Clegg, who all picked up diplomas at the end of last year.
Despite those key losses the Eagles have four seniors on this year's club who are ready to step up into leadership roles.
"Lauren Gaiser is returning, Makia Litton started last year and is back, Shaela Holliday played last year for the first time and came back out for us and senior Lexie Williams is playing for the first time this year and she is a great hustler," Sapp said. "Lexie is always trying to work and is always wanting to work on new things. Her drive is impressive."
The junior class is only two deep but could be a crucial factor in the team's success this year.
"Jenna Blain is coming back after starting last year," Sapp said. "I think she'll be taking a step forward as a player and as a leader. Erica Perry is going to make a push to have a role on varsity by giving us that shooter that we lost in Abbly Clegg."
Much like the junior class, Sapp believes the two sophomores on the team can play vital roles in 2022.
"We have two returning sophomores who are both going to get varsity time," Sapp said. "Sienna McKeever has shown a ton of growth and Mallory McDiffitt has been working to find her role on the varsity team as well."
With a smaller group of juniors and sophomores, Sapp is thrilled with the depth the incoming freshman group provides for not only this season but the future of the program.
"Six new freshmen came out this year and that is really important for the future of the program," Sapp said. "It's a good freshman group and I hope they stick together all four years."
The freshmen include Jordyn Dyer, Josy Nice, Gabriella Hudson, Aubrey Warder, Joslyn Magruder and Braylin Baker.
"I think we're going to be deeper off the bench than we were last year," Sapp said. "That is going to be really good for us. Our goal is to just pick up where we left off at the end of last season. I want us to continue to take steps forward and our main goal is to push ourselves to be better. I've already started seeing growth in practice. The kids are pushing each other and they are going hard through the drills. I can see the drive in their eyes."