Spartanburg Day Girl’s Basketball Focused On Making The Play-offs This Season

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Spartanburg — The Spartanburg Day varsity girls’ basketball team, head coached by Brian Wood, are hoping to improve on their 1-4 record they had at the holiday break once the season resumes in January.

“We have played a very tough early season schedule against teams like Landrum, Northside Christian, and Carolina Day, NC,” said Coach Wood. “I honestly think we can compete for a region title starting in January when region play begins. For anyone to think that this team can not compete for a region title, that would be a mistake.”

The Spartanburg Day girls began the season with an impressive 62-18 win over Palmetto Christian.

Senior point guard Kaytlin McJimpsey is described by the coach as “the quarterback of the team.” She was named all-region as a junior. She is currently averaging 7.4 points and 2.2 rebounds a game along with three assists and 2.5 steals also.

“As she goes, we go,” said Coach Wood. “Kaytlin is our best player and as we improve and get her more help, we will win some more games for sure.”

Layla Lemmonds is the team’s top rebounder and she is averaging 3.5 points and 6.5 rebounds a game.

Sarah Johnson and Hannah Vincent play significant minutes in the post, combining to account for right at six rebounds a game.

Aiala Diez and Merrill Loring provide the defensive presence at the guard position, both on and off the ball. They combine for over steals a game.

The team’s leading scorer is Katelyn Bopp who is averaging 8.9 points and 1.13 three- point basket per game. Grace Becker is playing well, averaging 4.4 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. 

Other hard-working members of the team include junior foreign exchange student Manoela Feuerschuette from Brazil. Sophomore back-up two guard Aroa Sala Ilribarren is an exchange student from Spain. Former player Maria Neves played only the first semester before she returned to her country.   

The team will resume play on January, 9 hosting Carolina Day from Asheville, NC. They host Oakbrook Prep on the 11^th before an away game at Palmetto Christian on the 14^th. The team begins region play at First Presbyterian Academy on January, 21^st before hosting Greenwood Christian in a region contest on the 28^th.



“Last year was the first year we didn’t make the play-offs in my five seasons as the head coach,” said Coach Wood. “Making the play-offs this season is a strong goal of this team.”