by Jamie Harris
Veteran head coach Dale McCumbee makes his return to the sidelines this season for Berkeley Springs High School after missing all of last season with back surgery. McCumbee will be faced with a very young and inexperienced roster that has only two varsity starters returning and only three seniors on the girls varsity basketball team.
Brooke Davison a senior point guard is hoping to return to the court this year after missing all of last year with a shoulder injury. Davison will be getting evaluated this coming week to see if she will be cleared to play for the Tribe.
Davison was a consistent scoring threat from all over the court her freshman and sophomore season. Davison’s ball handling abilities will be crucial for the Lady Indians this season if they are to have any success and pick up wins.
Another returning senior and starter is center Darby Harris. Harris saw a lot of minutes her sophomore season before earning a starting spot last season. Harris led Berkeley Springs in rebounds and is the second leading scorer returning for the Lady Indians.
Harris was able to provide critical points underneath the basket and in the paint last season and will once again be a scoring threat for Berkeley Springs.
McCumbee will also rely a lot on sophomore guard Caybrie Clatterbuck. Clatterbuck was very consistent with her three point shooting last season and is the leading returning scorer for the Tribe. With Clatterbuck a threat behind the three point line it will allow Berkeley Springs to score from not only outside, but also from the inside.
McCumbee will also look to another senior Katie Hoffman who plays the forward position. She will be counted on to grab rebounds and score on the inside. Hoffman had a lot of playing time last season on the junior varsity squad and also had some playing time with the varsity team as well.
Junior guard Taylor Stotler will be another player who could see a lot of playing time for the Lady Indians. Stotler who started at a guard position for the last two years on the junior varsity team gives Berkeley Springs another ball handler who can play defense and provide some scoring with her quickness.
Other varsity players who will be coming off the bench and help the team will be junior Kaleah Mellott (forward/center), sophomore Karalyne Banks (guard/forward) and freshman Sara Veara (center/forward). McCumbee feels these three players will be able to come in and help contribute offensively and on the defensive side.
“Defense will have to be our foundation. We will also need to develop a better team cohesiveness and chemistry if we are going to be successful with the teams on our schedule,” stated McCumbee.
Berkeley Springs scrimmaged Class AAA Musselman last Friday and did not fare well. The Lady Indians will travel to Class AAA Hedgesville for another scrimmage today, Wednesday, November 28 starting at 6 p.m. junior varsity and 7 p.m. varsity.
Berkeley Springs will officially open their season on Friday, November 30 at Class AAA Washington High School in Charles Town, with the junior varsity game starting at 6 p.m. and the varsity following at 7:30 p.m.
