The Russellville Lady Panthers officially begin their 2014-15 season tonight when they entertain Fort Campbell in a junior varsity/varsity doubleheader, beginning at 6 p.m. at Jim Young Gymnasium.
Not only will the RHS girls start a new season but also a new era. They will be under their third head coach in three years. At the helm now is Calvin Head, who was a star player and then head coach of the Todd Central Rebels for several years. He also has coached girls before as the softball coach at TCCHS.
It’s also a new era in that very little experience is back for the Lady Panthers. And for the first time perhaps in this century, no star players return. Two former Lady Panthers, Nakia Daniel and Khalia Hampton, are at Vol State Community College. Amber Sydnor, who started for long-time Coach Dedra Adler for six years, is a redshirt sophomore at Brescia University.
The two most experienced players are sophomore Loreal Cheaney and junior Davona Bryant. Both have great potential.
Head has no seniors on the team. The other junior besides Bryant is Reagan Wilkerson. In addition to Cheaney, the sophomores are Addie Hendley, Denise Stovall, Jolanda Wells and Tiffany Gray.
The freshmen are Alissa Kennedy, Breanna Lewis, Carleigh Phillips and Lexie Day.
Head adds, “I have four 8th graders listed. They will be playing a few JV games with us and will come to the high school team after their middle school season is over in January.”
Those eighth graders are DeShala LeBlanc, Brookly Ray, Sariana Allen and Taryn Gray.
Roger Daniel continues as an assistant coach, a role he has held for many years. Joining them is Cassie Reding, a former Todd Central standout who is a teacher at Stevenson Elementary School.
Head has gotten to know the students and players well as the new athletic director at RHS. He also has worked closely with the media during football season.
Basketball Season passes can now be purchased in the Russellville High School front office from Mary Celsor. Passes are $60. These passes will allow admission into all middle school and high school basketball games for all levels. These passes are only valid for regular season games and will not be able to be used for any tournament play. "This year we have a vast amount of home basketball games (25 HS home games- girls, boys, freshman, jv, and varsity)," says Head.