Team Preview
Written by: Ryan Lee
Meridian is coming off a season where they went 5-16. Heading into the 2015-16 season the Warriors will have another young team to grow and develop. The Lady Warriors will return five players from last year’s team in senior guard, Jessica Watson, senior post, Bailee Gorrell, junior forward Jaynee Taufoou, junior post, Kaitlynn Lee, and junior post, Isabelle Dimattio. Meridian will also be adding three freshman to their varsity this season and fifth year head coach, Amos Lee, says these freshman are hungry and should push the juniors and seniors to stay focus and develop.
Guard play has carried Meridian in years past, and it looks like they will have another guard heavy line-up, even after losing two players to graduation in honorable mention All SIC member, Carli Rice, and Meridian’s leader last season, Shelbie Martinez. “We will be very young heading into the year and we have a lot of growing to do. There will be lots of room for competition when it comes to playing time, and I hope early on in the season we can gel as a team and become very competitive,” said Coach Lee.
Offense:
Athleticism is the name of the game in the SIC with all the talented guards throughout the conference. Meridian might not have the talent or the athleticism the other teams have, but they will strive to be the most fundamental team. Coach Lee believes if his team can be the more fundamentally sound then the other teams in the conference that team to prove to be the bread winner when everyone in the conference likes to play up-tempo basketball.
Defense:
Like the many other teams in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference the Warriors want their defense to lead to their offense. Coach Lee wants his team to have a thirst for defense, and be competitive every night to help push the tempo for his offense. Meridian will be defensively young, but it sounds like from their coach that they are unafraid to make mistakes and just enjoy playing the game at an intelligent level.
Wrap-Up:
Meridian’s team motto this year is “Attitude is Everything.” For the Warriors there will be many ups and downs this season, but their coaches want them to come with a good attitude every day to learn and grow as a team. If they can gel and push each other as a team Meridian very well could be the most improved team in the conference this season.
GAMES TO WATCH: Meridian will only play neighborhood rival Rocky Mountain once this season. That game is scheduled to be played @ Meridian High School on January 9, 2015.
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