Goals are high for the defending Grand River Conference champions from Trenton High School, as the Lady Bulldogs, eight months removed from the program’s first-ever trip to the Class 3 “Show-Me Showdown”, opened practice for the 2017-2018 season on Monday, October 30th.
All pieces, including the coaching staff, return for the THS girls basketball program, with a couple of notable exceptions. Last season, Trenton flourished under the senior leadership and exemplary play of Whitley Richman. Richman graduated in May, leaving a hole in the paint, particularly on the offensive end, THS will be looking to fill this year. In this fall’s Lady Bulldog softball season, Whitley’s sister, Taylor Richman, broke her leg in a practice accident, leaving her junior basketball season in jeopardy. Reports on Taylor’s availability range from “out for the season” to a best-case scenario of “back in January”, meaning it is wait-and-see for the Lady Bulldogs and their coaching staff.
As practice started on Monday, October 30th, Head Coach Brian Upton said the excitement level was high within the Lady Bulldog program:
Notable over the final two months of last season, particularly after the season-ending ankle injury suffered by Salem Croy, was the quick improvement in play and on-the-floor confidence of senior Ashten Whitaker, including a trio of made three-point shots in the first quarter of a Class 3 semifinal loss to Whitfield at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. Coach Upton hopes that confidence continues into the new season:
Trenton’s strength continues to be led by a deep and talented junior class that includes the returning backcourt of Ainsley Tolson and Mykah Hurley, and the interior post presence of Sidney Lynch, expected to be one of the people to help lessen the scoring less of Whitley Richman this season. While the loss of Taylor Richman will hurt Trenton, the Lady Bulldogs will get a boost with the return of Salem Croy, who underwent surgery just after basketball season to repair her injured ankle suffered in January’s Hamilton Tournament:
Returning sophomores the likes of Haley Kidd and McKayla Blackburn can be expected to see increased varsity minutes this season, while an “X-Factor” for Trenton High School could be the play of Maci Moore, a talented freshman who was an all-state softball player for the Lady Bulldogs, and should make an immediate impact on the floor at the forward position for the Trenton basketball program.
While the goal of a return to the Final Four is in place, a return to Columbia will not be in the cards for Trenton. The Missouri State High School Activities Association is moving the 2018 event to Missouri State University in Springfield, where, like in Columbia, two gymnasiums will be utilized to play the Class 1, 2, and 3 tournaments over a three-day period.
Photo credit – Submitted by John Cowling / Twitter @trentonsoftball / Trenton, MO
