With a pair of returning seniors back to lead the starting five, Grandview’s new head coach of girls basketball, Ronda Hubbard, has high expectations this winter.
It all starts with 5-4 senior forward Kirstin Sparks, an all-district and all-conference player who averaged 15.4 points and 13.4 rebounds per game last season. She helped lead the Eagles to an 18-10 record, the most wins for the program in a number of years.
“Kirstin is one of our better shooters,” Hubbard said. “She is our leading scorer and rebounder from last season.”
Sparks isn’t the only Eagle who can fill up the basket. Senior Karleigh Faust (5-6), who averaged eight points per game last season, is back at shooting guard.
“She is one of our best perimeter shooters,” Hubbard said.
Traditionally the Eagles are accustomed to playing with a small lineup. That won’t be the case this season thanks to 5-10 center Macy Ketcherside. The transfer was an all-conference performer at De Soto last season.
“Grandview has been relatively small, so Macy brings a post presence that has not been there,” Hubbard said. “She can do it all. She is a real presence on the block. We look for Macy to be a huge part of what we do this year.”
That trio of starters has been named co-captains this season. The remaining starters include junior point guard Melina Eaker (5-3) and junior guard Katelyn McGlaughlin (5-4).
“Those two will prove to be our best defenders,” Hubbard said. “They will be a huge part of what we do.”
Hubbard is the team’s third coach in as many years, following Zac McVey (2007-2014) and Scott Meyer (2014-2015). An accomplished coach at the collegiate level, Hubbard came to Grandview because she wanted to get into administration. She also is in her first year as the school’s athletic director.
She brings a wealth of high school and college experience to the head coaching position and has installed a new system that her players are picking up nicely.
“I have a very hard-working group of kids,” Hubbard said. “They are open to a new style of play. It’s a new system they are having to learn. They are very coachable kids.”
The coach also expects important contributions from a trio of players off the bench. Included in that group so far are junior guard Cecilia Diederichs (5-5), sophomore guard Kaylyn Sparks (5-2) and junior forward Meaghan Faust (5-4).
Hubbard said the team’s strength is its defensive presence and the experience of its top players. She added that its biggest weakness is its lack of depth.
The Eagles open their season at the John F. Kennedy Tournament on Nov. 28.