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By SETH STASKEY
BARNESVILLE -- Jamie Carpenter knows winning should always be cherished.
That's why the veteran Barnesville coach won't even begin to complain about the fact that his team has won 29 games in the last two seasons. Though he's not complaining, he admits that he's not satisfied.
"It's not where we hope or want to be and hopefully we're due to break through," Carpenter said. "Our goals remain the same in terms of qualifying for the OVAC Tournament and winning the sectional and going from there."
Last season, the Shamrocks finished with 14 victories and advanced to the OVAC Tournament, but bowed out to Linsly in the semifinals. In the OHSAA Tournament, however, the Shamrocks were ousted, at the buzzer, by Monroe Central.
"We're glad that we got into the OVAC, but we didn't get to where wanted to be and that's at OUE and then, for the second straight season, we had a tough loss in the tournament," Carpenter said.
The Shamrocks will attempt to take the next steps with a relatively experienced cast that welcomes back three starters. Unfortunately, the other two starting spots are lack much court experience as only one other letterman dots the Barnesville roster.
"We have the three starters back, but we can't have girls who are timid and playing like deer in headlights at the other two spots," Carpenter said. "We've scrimmaged well, but we'll have to see when the lights really come on."
The unquestioned leader for the Shamrocks is senior guard Kallee Dowler (5-8). She enters the season needing less than 300 points for 1,000 in her career. She's coming off a campaign in which she averaged nearly 18 a night. Along with that, Dowler has already determined for collegiate future, having signed with the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
"Kallee can play this season without a whole lot of pressure," Carpenter said. "Being signed (for college) already takes the pressure off of her and she can really have fun this year. She had a great summer. Her basketball IQ is extremely high and she's really improved her passing and the use of her left hand."
Joining Dowler in the backcourt is junior Sarah Powell (5-6). She'll run the point for the Shamrocks and her head coach thinks her scoring will go up this winter, too.
"We're going to need Sarah to step up in scoring opposite of Kallee," Carpenter said.
The Shamrocks have a force on the interior in 6-4 junior Dulcie Christman. With her protecting the rim, the Shamrocks plan to implement many several different defensive looks. Offensively, Carpenter expects Christman's production to improve with the year under her belt.
"We need Dulcie on the court," Carpenter said. "We don't need her to block eight or nine shots because she's able to alter so many. We think she can be a force that can affect the game on both ends."
Juniors Abby Starr (5-5) and Baylie MacMillan (5-2) are currently ticketed for the starting spots. Star earned a letter a season ago, while MacMillan, who has been slowed this month with a foot injury, saw spot duty.
Two sophomores that Carpenter plans to get into the mix are Annie Carpenter (5-7) and Paige Morgan (5-9).
With four of the seven slated to see their first real varsity minutes makes Dowler, Powell and Christman that much more important.
Also expected to vie for varsity minutes are sophomore Madyson Little (5-7), Mallory Conner (5-6), Sydney Leach (5-5) and Addy Wildes (5-5).