The mindset of the 2018-19 Christian County girls’ basketball team seems to be one of unfinished business, coming off a season that saw it capture the 8th District championship before falling to Webster County 45-32 in the 2nd-Region title game. The Lady Colonels finished the season at 23-8, the program’s best record since a 25-6 mark in 2007-08.
A couple of key pieces of last season’s team have moved on, with guard La’Deria Gold now playing at Southwestern Illinois and center Trinitee Jackson competing at the NCAA Division 1 level for Arkansas State. Gold was third on the team in scoring at 10.4 a game and her 68 3-pointers made was tops for the Lady Colonels. Jackson led the team in both scoring and rebounding, with 14.7 and 8.7 a game, while being named honorable mention all-state.
Leading the returning charge for the Lady Colonels is senior guard Aaliyah Hampton. Hampton garnered All-District and All-Region recognition last season and was named to the Kentucky Junior All-Star team while averaging 13.9 points per game. Joining her in the backcourt is fellow senior Kinara Phillips, a defensive specialist who set the school’s single-season steals record with 76 in 2017-18. Sophomore post player Trinity McGee will be asked to fill the substantial void left by Jackson’s departure. McGee averaged 7.4 points a game while adding solid defense and shot blocking.
The Lady Colonels will also be bolstered down low by the return of senior Talitha Bryant. Bryant missed the last two seasons with a couple of ACL injuries, but is back to add size and a solid mid-range jumper to the County attack.
Another senior who will be called upon to up her production is shooting guard Bianna Snorton. Snorton was second on the team in 3-pointers made last season with 33, connecting from long range at a 24% clip. Junior Eniya McGee should see more time in the post, while sophomore Amari Brown will be relied upon to help with ball-handling duties.
Christian County will get its regular-season campaign underway on Novemeber 27 when Muhlenberg County visits Colonel Gym. The Lady Colonels topped the Lady Mustangs 81-62 to open last season.