2009-10 girls basketball preview: Harker Heights to rely on youth movement Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 5 2009 04:51 AM By Alex Byington
Killeen Daily Herald

HARKER HEIGHTS – If Brianna Golden has her way, youth will be served this season.

Led by Golden, a 5-foot-10 sophomore combo guard that started as a freshman, the Harker Heights girls basketball team will be filled with talented but young underclassmen, which is why many see it repeating the 2-12 district record from a year ago.

"I'm glad they expect us to be the underdogs because this year we're going to come ready and prepared, and I think we're going to win district this year," said Golden, the lone freshman to make first team All-District 12-5A last season.

Although those may be lofty goals for a team that managed a district-low 26 loses a year ago, that's just the confidence coming to a head in the second season under coach Shirretha Nelson.

"We're young again this year, but we've got another year under our belts," Nelson said. "... But overall, we're excited, we're anxious and they're working hard. We're anticipating being quick and playing good basketball."

Despite a lackluster record, Nelson was extremely pleased with how her even younger team played a year ago.

She said it has helped foster the feeling of excitement and confidence taking place around Harker Heights.

"A lot of it is teaching these kids how to be positive and build on it, but it's also using it as a reminder and motivation to push us – 'Hey ladies, this is what we've done. Even though everybody had us ranked at the bottom, look at what we accomplished,'" Nelson said. "I love being ranked as the underdog, because there's no expectation and we get to come up and spoil it for everybody because they've already set the standard."

Among the returning starters along with Golden will be junior forward Bianca Patterson, who averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game last season, as well as junior guards Mariama Dashiel and Jasmine Taylor, who will start the season on the bench nursing a preseason knee injury.

Nelson said there are several new faces she'll be counting on to fill holes, including senior guard Sara Anderson, a talented transfer from Germany.

With depth at guard, Nelson anticipates being able to move Golden around in more versatile ways, including playing her at both the No. 1 and 2 guard spots, which will free her up to take advantage of different scoring opportunities.

"Our guard play is going to be very important for us this year – we're guard-heavy, we're quick all across the board, even our posts are quick," Nelson said. "So that's going to be a strength this year."

While the team's youth and speed are strengths, the Lady Knights will depend heavily on the senior game experience they do have with 5-foot-11 forward Shaniqua Thomas and 5-5 guard Latifah Evans.

Although the team's overall height might be an issue again this season, the post will be filled by 5-11 forwards Patterson and Thomas along with 6-foot center Courtney Flemming, and combo guard/forward Rae'Vaughn Barnes, who can play both inside and out at 5-11.

"We're still not very tall, honestly ... our point guard (Golden) and our center (Patterson) are about the same height, but despite what height we don't have, our girls are tough," Nelson said. "They might not be the tallest posts in the district, but they are able to play their position because they can jump out of the gym."

Contact Alex Byington at alexb@kdhnews.com or at (254) 501-2478.