Published: November 30, 2009 11:52 pm      

Spartans, Mavericks kick off new girls hoops season

There’s nothing like an early start, and Greenbrier East and James Monroe will do just that when they tip off the girls high school basketball season tonight.

“I guess this is as early as you can start, so why not,” said Greenbrier East coach Jim Justice said. “You always have a lot of weather issues (during the season) so it’s good to go ahead and get it rolling.”

The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. at East.

It will be fan appreciation night. Any fan bringing two cans of food will get in free and the first 1,000 fans will receive T-shirts.

“That was something our principal, Jeff Bryant, came up with and I think it’s a great idea,” Justice said. “We always have big crowds, so they’ll be able to get a lot of food for the needy and a T-shirt.”

On the court, the Spartans must replace captains Kelli Morgan and Katie Keaton, who have graduated.

Morgan averaged 20 points per game last year and Keaton 14.

“That’s two big players out of the lineup,” Justice said. “But we have a lot of kids who got some time last year. We have a young team but I think as the season goes on we are going to mold into a nice team.”

Mary Kellen Curry started at the point last year and Brittany Parker was at power forward. Both return.

Justice said he has a bevy of multi-talented players, any of whom he would feel comfortable playing, including Emily Clemens and twins Erica and Amanda McGuire in the backcourt and Kayla Whited, Christine McClung and Jesse Ford inside.

Also, newcomer Lashay Walker, a 6-foot-2 transfer from Roanoke, Va., should see time as the Spartans center.

Only Curry, McClung and Clemens are seniors.

“All of them have played and they are working really hard,” said Justice, whose team was 13-10 last season. “I have a lot of different dimensions I can go with. I can go big or I can go smaller or fast.”

Justice expects a challenge from the Mavericks.

“They typically have a real strong girls program and a solid team,” he said. “I really think they are going to have one of their stronger teams.”