Lady Eagles Basketball Team Enters Season Under New Head Coach
2024-25 Lady Eagles Basketball Team… This year’s Holden Lady Eagles basketball team is pictured, front row, left to right, Zoe Garcia, Kyleigh Stowell, Alyssa Agcopra, Kaylynn Pedrow, Annie Zillner, and Jillyan McHenry; back row, Addy Campbell, Karleigh Tevis, Brooke Gimmarro, Lilly Carver, Jaci Gower, Jenna McHenry, Bella Haggard, and Savannah Dilday; not pictured, Layne Jennings, Neveah Mussard, and Justice Barker. Photo by Steve Edwards
The Holden girls basketball team is set to begin the upcoming season on the road with a game at Adrian on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The Lady Eagles are in preparation for their season opener under first-year Holden head coach Todd Shanks who previously coached at Sherwood. Coach Shanks replaces former Holden girls basketball head coach Ben Kiger who spent five seasons in the lead role after serving several years as an assistant coach for the team.
“I have been coaching all levels of basketball for about 10 years now,” says coach Shanks. “This is my first year at Holden. I’m looking forward to working with these ladies.”
Aside from the Lady Eagles entering the season under a new head coach, a highlight for the team will be the opportunity to play home games on a recently refurbished gym floor which boasts new artwork.
Coach Shanks takes over a Lady Eagles basketball team that posted an overall record of 11-15 last season, and finished at 3-7 in MRVC-East play.
“I thought this team was a well disciplined team last year,” says coach Shanks who coached against Holden during his time with the Lady Marksmen. “The injuries last year were tough to overcome with some of the younger talent stepping in.”
Gone from last year’s team is guard Rachel Wamsley who was a four-year high school team member and one of the team’s leading scorers as a three-point threat.
“It is hard to replace Rachel Wamsley,” says coach Shanks. “She is a competitor. We will miss her defensive presence and outside shooting.”
This year’s Lady Eagles roster of 17 players features a mix of returning starters and team leaders, players with previous varsity experience, and a group of incoming freshmen looking for their place on the team.
This year’s Lady Eagles team looks to define its identity as new players in the mix step into playing time under the new head coach.
“The identity has yet to show itself yet,” says coach Shanks. “We have made it a point to emphasize defense and rebounding. I would say the strength will be defense. What we have been working on to get better at is trust. Great teams have a trust from top to bottom.”
Headlining this year’s roster are senior Jaci Gower, and juniors Addy Campbell and Lilly Carver who each return with extended varsity playing time. Last season, Campbell collected First Team All-MRVC-East recognition as well as a spot on the KMZU Dream Team. Gower was named as an Honorable Mention All-MRVC-East selection.
“Addy Campbell returns as a junior,” notes coach Shanks. “She has a great feel for the game. She is a returning starter. Addy has stepped into a leader role. She is my point guard and also is my floor general. Jaci Gower gives us a great presence on the inside. She is a returning starter.”
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