Prep Girls Hoops Preview | Gallatin County: Hawks looking for repeat performance
Gallatin County returns a team that lost in the final seconds to Woodlawn in last year's sectional championship game, but the biggest return for the Hawks is junior guard/forward Hailey Chubb.
Chubb joins a nearly intact team from a year ago, joined by Harlie Turner and Caitlin Lynch, who returns to Gallatin County after tearing her ACL and missing the season.
"We feel like we can be pretty good if everything works itself out like we think it can," Gallatin County head coach Robert Patton said. "We have more depth and we have some young kids that I think can be really good."
Chubb will be the X-Factor for Patton and company as the junior is well on her way to becoming the school's all-time leading scorer.
"Players like Hailey don't come along every day and the biggest thing I told Hailey that she had to do this year than last year is to make sure that these girls are in the game, to make sure that when she is supposed to make a pass, she makes it and keep her teammates involved. If she does that, we can be pretty good," Patton said.
"I've talked to her about getting those guys involved and maybe passing up a shot this year, where maybe last year, I would have told her to take that shot. She's not a selfish kid at all and she wants to get everyone involved and if we can do that, we'll be pretty good."
With Lynch back and the continued strong play of Morgan Roderick, Kaylee McGuire and freshman Audrey Jackson, the ability to play good defense will come before offense according to Patton.
"I think we're real strong defensively," he said. "We're going to pressure people out front and I think, just like in baseball, defense comes first and offense comes later. It's the same thing in basketball."
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register and Eldorado Daily Journal. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
Galltin County Schedule + Roster
<p>Gallatin County Schedule</p>
<p>Nov. 14 vs. Carterville* 68-51 L<br />Nov. 15 vs. Herrin* 65-37 L<br />Nov. 17 vs. Massac County* 53-22 W<br />Nov. 18 vs. Marion* 53-41 W<br />Nov. 19 vs. Vienna* 73-69 L<br />Nov. 21 at Dongola 76-39 W<br />Nov. 22 at Goreville 70-67 W<br />Nov. 29 at Eldorado 6 p.m.<br />Nov. 30 at Hardin County 6 p.m.<br />Dec. 5 GALATIA 6 p.m.<br />Dec. 6 at Christopher 6 p.m.<br />Dec. 9 POPE COUNTY 6 p.m.<br />Dec. 12 MARION 6 p.m.<br />Jan. 3 at West Frankfort 6 p.m.<br />Jan. 9 HARDIN COUNTY 6 p.m.<br />Jan. 12 at Galatia 6 p.m.<br />Jan. 14 ELVERADO 6 p.m.<br />Jan. 16-21 at Eldorado Tournament TBA<br />Jan. 23 at Wayne City 6 p.m.<br />Jan. 24 at Pope County 6 p.m.<br />Jan. 25 DONGOLA 6 p.m.<br />Jan. 26 CARMI 6 p.m.</p>
<p>Gallatin County Roster</p>
<p>No. Name Class Hgt. Pos.<br />40 Chassidy Graham Sr. 5-4 G<br />34 Caitlin Lynch Sr. 5-9 C <br />12 Kaylee McGuire Sr. 5-5 G<br />10 Morgan Roderick Sr. 5-7 G </p>
<p>31 Harlie Turner Sr. 5-10 F <br />25 Valerie Ahrens Jr. 6-0 C <br />13 Hailey Chubb Jr. 5-10 G <br />14 Avery Scates Jr. 5-7 G <br />11 Raven Valadez So. 5-5 G <br />35 Emma Brockett Fr. 5-9 F <br />24 Macey Crane Fr. 5-9 F<br />23 Audrey Jackson Fr. 5-8 G<br />33 Molly Newton Fr. 5-6 G<br />41 Maddie O’Neal Fr. 5-4 G<br />21 Gracie Sauls Fr. 5-1 G<br /><br /></p>