MOUNTULLA — The first thing Toni Wheeler tells you about her West Rowan girls basketball team is that it’s short. There is only one player over 5-foot-10.
But after watching West defeat highly-ranked Central Cabarrus in the season opener, it’s obvious the Falcons are not short on talent.
It is going to be a team of whirling dervishes, a group that’s going run around like Falcons with their heads cut off — and plenty of heads in the North Piedmont Conference might end up on the West chopping block.
Wheeler is taking over for Angie Waddell and thinks West will succeed because of tradition.
“West Rowan is thought of as a basketball school,” she said.
A former South Rowan and Wingate star, Wheeler is looking forward to being back in control. She was the head coach until turning things over to Waddell and serving as the assistant for the past four seasons.
She lost players like Shameeka Wansley, Jenny Sloop and Danielle Scearce off an 19-win team so she will coach to this team’s strengths.
“We’ll try to keep it up-tempo,” she said. “That’s what we’ll have to do — press and fast break.”
And, of course, give the ball to Hillary Hampton.
Only a sophomore, Hampton is the leader of the team and is expected to carry the load offensively. She is a returning all-conference and all-county performer and the only starter back.
“We expect Hillary to be the court general,” said Wheeler. “She has looked really good. Hillary has to stay on the floor. She’s the backbone of our team.”
There are only three seniors on the team and one, Kenya Peek, did not play last year.
Natalie Jones is ready to ditch her backup status of previous years and show some leadership. Although only 5-6, she is aggressive and a good rebounder.
“Natalie has the potential to be a scorer,” Wheeler said.
Mandy Massey is also 5-6 but she is a post player.
“She’ll help us in the lane,” Wheeler said. “She goes after rebounds and roughs everybody up. She’ll get a lot of playing time.”
Peek is 5-10 and is a good rebounder.
The only true height comes from 6-0 freshman Brittany Roberson, a transfer from Sacred Heart. She has the potential to be one of the NPC’s best post people.
“She plays a little bigger than six feet,” Wheeler said. “She’s an excellent rebounder and very fundamental. You can tell she’s been well coached.”
In the opening win, Hampton had 29 points, which was expected. The second leading scorer was Roberson, with 18.
“She is going to surprise some people,” Wheeler smiled. “She can do a lot more than most freshmen.”
Roberson didn’t have a lot of competition in private school but AAUhelped her, according to Wheeler. And she has fit in well.
“They love her,” Wheeler said of the Falcon upperclassmen.
Lyndsey Gay, a 5-1 sophomore sparkplug, Jac White, a 5-10 sophomore forward, Julia Hartsell, a 5-5 freshman and Kristina Lewis, a 5-6 junior, will all provide for the team.
“White is tall but not a post player,” Wheeler said. “She doesn’t make mistakes. She’s a lot like Sloop.
“Gay’s very quick — probably the fastest on the team. She’ll help on the break and with
ballhandling.
“Hartsell went to six or seven basketball camps and loves the game. And when you see Lewis play, you’ll be so surprised. She’s a workhorse.”
Blair Harkey, Sad’e Oglesby and Chasta Heggins are all sophomores. Desiree Charleston is a junior.
“I think we’re rebuilding but we can still play with anybody,” Wheeler said. “I see a lot of close games and with preparation and a little luck, we can pull some out.”
How does Wheeler feel about taking over again?
“So far, it’s been smooth,” she said of her transition with the players and assistants Bob Blake, a former coach in West Virginia, and Starr Forney.
Wheeler thinks six or seven teams can do well in the conference.
“I think it’s going to be a big jumble,” she said.
And when it’s time to jump into that jumble, West will be right there, pressing and fast-breaking the rest of the league to death.
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