From left, Paulding High varsity basketball players Jenny
Vernet and Kimberly Person.
Prior to this streak, head coach Larrell Lewis, admitted that her team was having a rough time but she was confident they would turn things around.
“It’s a little rocky right now, but we’re going to get there. We’re very young so there’s a lot we have to work on,” said Lewis.
With only three seniors and two juniors on the varsity team, the Lady Patriots are lacking in the experience department as they dress seven underclassmen. Lewis also said her team “struggles in numbers” as they only have seven JV players.
Leading the team in three key roles are 6 foot 1, senior, center Jennie Vernet, 5 foot 10, sophomore, point guard Kim Person and 5 foot 10, junior, power forward Keshia Shy.
Lewis said Vernet is going to be the team’s biggest impact as everything has to run through her. Shy is a leader for the team on the court and their top scorer, scoring 32 points against Lithia Springs.
As for Person, Lewis said she is learning a completely new role.
“She’s kind of being put in a role that she’s uncomfortable with. In middle school at her size, they put you at post so it’s something totally different for her,” Lewis said.
Now that this is Lewis’ second season with the team, she feels this year’s squad will see more success than the first.
“My first year, it was a slow process getting accommodated, but I had a good group of girls. We were bigger, but I think this year we’ll be more successful just because the girls are used to my style of coaching and they know how I want them to play – aggressive,” said Lewis.
Now with four straight wins, the team is looking good and on their way to accomplishing their goals for the season and changing how people view the basketball program.
“The basketball program has been looked down upon a lot of years but we’re building up. So hopefully this year we’ll be able to beat everyone in the county and be a region contender. That’s our goal this year,” Lewis said.
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