After a trip to the Elite Eight last season, Morgan County girls’ basketball has high hopes for this year.
Before the season, third-year head coach Milfred Franklin was eager to get things going. He’s seen his players grow in the offseason and develop a strong chemistry together on and off the court.
“I feel real good about the girls that we have coming back and how much they have grown as basketball players through the summer and fall leagues,” Franklin said in October. “The girls have made a good push to want to be better than last year. The mentality, accountability, and responsibility they have taken on have really been very contagious throughout the program. It’s great to see.”
The Lady Dogs return several contributors from last season, including Jaden Young, Cydney Burke, Kymora Smith, Miracle Ward, and Madison Holcomb. They are the nucleus of this year’s team.
Burke and Young picked up where they had left off and currently lead the team in scoring. Smith has contributed in the few games she’s played before getting hurt. She’s expected to return soon, though.
Franklin is also excited about the addition of senior transfer Dakota Brickell, who moved in from out of state. He described her as a “gem” that “fell into the team’s lap,” adding depth to the team’s lineup.
“[Dakota] will help our rotation with the guards because we are strong at that position,” Franklin said. “We’re guard-heavy, which will allow us to play a much, much faster tempo than we did last year.”
Morgan’s season began earlier this month on Nov. 9. The Lady Dogs started 2-0 with wins over Habersham Central and Oglethorpe County before losing four straight. They encountered tough competition in losses to Union Grove, Oconee County, Putnam County, and Mill Creek.
Despite returning a strong core, the team is still young, and Franklin knows each season is different. The third-year coach also looks for younger girls to step up and contribute more off the bench.
“I’m looking forward to more input from my entire bench, but a lot of my girls are young, and they’re still gaining real game experience,” Franklin said last week after a 47-45 loss to rival Putnam County. “I’m surely counting on them to bring us more energy, but it will come throughout the season as it goes on. I’m confident my girls can rise to the challenge. I know they can do it.”