With the return of their senior point guard and three talented freshmen, the West Marion Trojans basketball team’s arrow is pointing up.
The Lady Trojans are 3-3 but have been competitive in every game.
“In our three losses, we were ahead in two of those,” head coach Steven Fortenberry said. “We were ahead of East Marion at half time then just completely fell apart in the second half. Bogue Chitto we lost to in overtime. Seminary made five threes on us in the first quarter, and we got down over 20 and fought back. So we’ve got some fight in us.”
In Tuesday’s night 59-40 win over Enterprise, the Lady Trojans were up by more than 20, but Enterprise rallied back to cut the lead down to just five points. Fortenberry said he liked the way they responded as they ended up with a 19-point victory.
“In the past when we have given up a lead or somebody cut into our lead we kind of fell apart. We’re not doing that, except for that East Marion game, anymore,” he said.
The freshmen trio of Raven Jones, Olivia Miller and Paris Thompson was called up to the varsity team for the stretch run last season but was unable to actually practice with the team. Because they were in junior high, their schedules forced them to wait until school was over. Now that they are practicing with the team and make up 60 percent of West Marion’s starting lineup, Fortenberry sees a bright future ahead.
Jones had a career high in points and assists against Enterprise, according to Fortenberry, and had more than 20 points while consistently being the most explosive player on the court. She is second in scoring on the team, while Miller is third and Thompson leads the team in rebounding.
“We’ve got some mammoth challenges ahead of us after Christmas with Jeff Davis and Tylertown, and we’re going to see what (Jones) is made of there,” Fortenberry said. “But she’s really impressive for a freshman.”
West Marion’s lone senior, Hannah Miller, who signed with Pearl River Community College for softball, is back with the team after missing last year with a torn ACL and is setting the pace for the Lady Trojans with 10.8 points per game.
“She’s like the glue that holds everything together. From a leadership standpoint, it’s been a blessing to have her back,” Fortenberry said.
He said if they improve on handling pressure they have a chance to be special.
“If not this year then the near future. I think right now we’re better than West Marion has been since I’ve been here,” he said. “We’re turning the corner; we just may not be turning it real fast.”
The Lady Trojans played host to Our Lady Academy Thursday and East Marion Friday. They will play Enterprise in a rematch on the road Monday.
Caption: Freshman forward Raven Jones dribbles Tuesday versus Enterprise. Along with fellow freshmen Olivia Miller and Paris Thompson, Jones is part of a trio that has helped reinvigorate the West Marion program. Photo by Joshua Campbell
