‘Having Everybody Back’ Should Pay Dividends
Following several rebuilding years, the Rockbridge County High School girls basketball team will look to its six returning players to lead the way.
The Wildcats, under the direction of second-year head coach Darrell Plogger, didn’t graduate any players from last year’s team, and they return experienced players who have been spending a lot of time on the basketball court in the offseason.
“All of them have really gotten better because all of them have either played travel basketball or worked hard since last season,” said Plogger.
Last year, the Wildcats were a young team that went 2-20 overall and 1-11 in the Valley District.
The Wildcats’ lone senior is 5-foot-6-inch guard Emma Clark, a strong outside shooter who has committed to playing Division III basketball for Bridgewater College. “She’s really improved over the summer,” said Plogger. “Bigger, strong, faster. She’s put in a lot of work.”
Joining Clark are six juniors and three sophomores.
Guard Abby Bouchard (5-9) is a talented shooter and has improved at driving to the basket.
Bouchard kept busy with basketball over the summer, including playing with the Glasgow-based Virginia Bandits, a youth travel team, in the Run 4 Roses Classic in Louisville, Ky. and winning a bronze medal with the Lynchburg- based Liberty Premiere in the Commonwealth Games at Liberty University.
“Abby’s a gym rat,” said Plogger. “Every time she can get in the gym, she’s here. She’s gonna have a really good season. All the work she’s put in is going to pay off.”
Returning at point guard is junior Bella Dorey (5-6), a versatile floor leader. “Her set of skills is something that we really can’t replace,” said Plogger. “She sees the court as well as anybody. Her intensity really sets the table for us.”
Another returning guard is junior Natalie Samante (56), “She’s been in the gym all summer,” said Plogger. “Her skills are really awesome. We’ve just got to get her to get comfortable in games. She’s gonna have a good year, too.”
The Wildcats’ other two returnees are sophomores Ruby Goodhart and Des Butler (56).
Goodhart, a 6-foot-3-inch center, had an impressive freshman year as an inside presence. After recovering from a successful girls lacrosse season, during which she helped the Wildcats make the Class 4 state championship game, which they lost 12-8 to Western Albemarle, Goodhart wasn’t able to get on the basketball court as much this summer. However, she came back to practice this fall and has shown a lot of progress, Plogger said. “She’s bigger, stronger, faster,” said Plogger. “She’s been working hard.”
Optimistic about Goodhart’s future, Plogger said, “If she wants to prioritize basketball, I think she’s a [Division I] player.”
Butler provided a spark and quality scoring and defense as a freshman, and Plogger said she’s also improved.
Confident in his returning players, Plogger said, “Just having everybody back in this program for a year is gonna make so much difference. We’ve seen it already in practices in our drills.”
Joining the returnees are four players on the varsity team for the time. Junior forward Desire Long (5-9) is “big, strong and athletic,” said Plogger. “I really think she can contribute.”
Plogger has high hopes for Long and another newcomer, junior forward Destiny Camden (5-7). “Both of them have just jumped right in and got after it, and are really quick learners,” said Plogger. “I think both of them will contribute pretty soon.”
Moving up from the junior varsity team last year are junior forward Claire Taylor (5-8) and sophomore guard Lexi Samante (5-3). Plogger said Taylor will “give us depth in the frontcourt,” while Samante will help in the backcourt.
As always, Plogger said, the goal is to get better every day. “If we do that, we’re gonna see a tremendous difference in our wins and losses,” he said.
Offensively, Plogger said the main area to fix from last year is to reduce turnovers. The goal is 15 or fewer per game.
Defensively, the Wildcats will generally play man-toman defense, with some pressure defense. “We’ve changed it a little bit,” said Plogger.
Plogger returns his entire coaching staff from last year. Monica Schaus comes back for her second year with the Wildcats. Monica’s been a great help to me. She’s so knowledgeable about the game and helping me just with the girls in general.”
Tyler Falls will continue to be the head JV coach. “He does a great job with it,” said Plogger.
Paul Pelter and Ricky Haston return as assistant coaches who helped Plogger coach the RC boys basketball team in the 2010s. “They’ve been with us for years,” said Plogger. “They know what we’re trying to do, and they’re great about helping out with every aspect of our program.”
Also returning to help out some is Seth Clark. “I’m just glad to have everybody back,” said Plogger. The Wildcats’ manager is Maddie Smith.
RC will play in the Valley District for one more season before switching to the Shenandoah District, which will require shorter travel time. Plogger said the Valley District is the “toughest district in the state.” He expects the toughest district rivals to be Spotswood, Turner Ashby and Broadway.
The Wildcats will open the season at home against Stuarts Draft next Wednesday, Dec. 4, For the first month or so, due to work on the bleachers at the high school, the Wildcats will play their home games at Maury River Middle School, the former Lexington High School. RC’s district opener will be at MRMS against East Rockingham on Monday, Dec. 9. Both nights are scheduled to start with JV action at 5:30 p.m. The Wildcats will take on local rival Parry McCluer twice, at home on Friday, Dec. 27 and at PM on Saturday, Jan. 4, with the varsity games scheduled for 4 p.m. on both days.
