Basketball Preview
The Orangefield Lady Bobcats had another successful season last year. Orangefield was the district champion winning all 14 district games before the Lady Bobcats were eliminated in the post season.
Coach Jennifer Willis has several Lady Bobcats returning for this season who will lead the team. At the top of that list is the district offensive player of the year Faith Fregia. She will be a top scorer and a key performer for Orangefield this year.
Also back is Jacey Bourque and starting point guard Joli Ponfick. The Lady Bobcats will have starting post Madison Greenway back on the court again.
Orangefield has a few holes to fill, and Willis has the younger girls to fill them. A freshman is starting for the Lady Bobcats. Forward Harleigh Rawls stepped onto the varsity and will play a lot of minutes for Orangefield.
Another freshman Stormi Lorenzo will come off the Lady Bobcat bench to play significant minutes this year. Sophomores coming off the bench are Jaslyn Newman and Kenadie Dubose for Orangefield.
As always, the games leading up to district for the Lady Bobcats are to get them ready for the district opponents. Coach Willis stated the non-district opposition included top programs like Beaumont West Brook, Barbers Hill, Tomball, and Lumberton.
The district season for the Lady Bobcats started December 10 on the road against Hardin. Orangefield had a 20-point win over the Hornets, after which the coach praised her girls for performing well to open the district. Willis added, “I think playing that tougher schedule really helps the ladies step up in district.”
In the recent Bill Tennison Tournament at Orangefield the Lady Bobcats took second place losing only to a big West Brook team. Orangefield will compete in the AggieLand Invitational over the Christmas holidays which features more strong competition.
Willis looked at Orangefield’s chances to capture another district title. The expectations are obviously high with the caliber of returning Lady Bobcats. Coach Willis likes to set the bar high, but so do the Lady Bobcats. “I expect us to work really hard and to earn every bit of it whatever we get, but it’s going to be tough because we’re young, but we’re still Bobcats,” Willis concluded.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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