Guard play key to Lady Panthers’ season

With three of six seniors back on the Saratoga women’s basketball team for their final season, the Lady Panthers have the experience, chemistry and individual talent now for a deep run into the regional tournament - if they can put it all together.

Saratoga’s offense will once again run through guards Taylor Smith, senior, and Justine Fourman, sophomore, this season. The two combined for 19.8 points per game last year, just under two-thirds of Saratoga’s points.

“We’re definitely guard heavy, (junior) Heather Oxford and (senior) Amber Young are our post players, and after that there is a drop off,” head coach Matt Love said.

Both guards looked confident driving hard in the lane and shooting the deep ball last season; Smith hit 39 percent from the field and Fourman connected on 34 percent of her field goals.

Senior Amber Young and junior Heather Oxford hauled in a combined 11.1 rebounds per game, providing a huge lift down the stretch.

Defensively, Saratoga averaged a solid three blocks and 11.9 steals per game, but ball control is going to be a key issue going forward - the Lady Panthers turned it over 22.9 times a game last season. Love hopes Saratoga can close that gap by using their speed and an aggressive full-court press.

All but two of their wins came from games where they scored 46 points or better and kept turnovers to 20 or fewer.

“We had a tough game against Cokeville, but they have six seniors, and they’re pretty solid this year,” Love said. “I’m just happy we almost scored 40 points against them the first game out. Last year, we had a tough time scoring 40 against anybody.”

Love said Saratoga’s shot selection was good last year, they just could not get anything to fall. Rather than mess with an offense he believes is working, Love kept things the same and will hope Lady Luck rolls the Panther’s way this time around.

“We’ll see what works the best, hopefully by mid-February we’ll have it figured out and we’ll be a threat.”

Saratoga’s biggest obstacle will be within their own conference. The Lady Panthers won three of five over a three-week stretch in January and February - including a sweep of HEM - and took two of their last three, both against Colorado teams. Despite the strides Saratoga took, though, they finished the season winless in 2A Southeast. This year, Love expects that to change.

“We do have a tough conference, and I do feel like we can compete this year,” Love said. “I hope the girls get out and play to the best of their ability and come together when it matters.”

While Saratoga’s seniors, along with Fourman, will be the team’s biggest factor in turning the Panthers into a force within the conference, freshman Mati Love, Matt Love’s daughter, is certain to make opponents pay for overlooking her.

Love was the star of a talented middle school team and is now one of the youngest players on a program just starting to flex its muscles.

“We have high hopes for her, and we think she’ll really help us out,” Coach Love said. “The freshmen will be getting some playing time, definitely.”