Women's Basketball Season Report

Montgomery, Ala.-While the season may have just started, the Huntingdon Women's Basketball Team is ready for a normal season.

"Last year there were a lot of external factors that affected our girls daily and this year they can finally relax and have fun doing what they love," Head Coach Paige Huff said. "We are looking forward to getting better each day and challenging ourselves with a tough schedule."

Last season, the Hawks were 5-9 overall and averaged 61.6 points per game. The Hawks were 4-2 at home, even without fans. They averaged 37.4 rebounds per game and 21.7 field goals made per game. 

Coming into the 2021-22 season, the Hawks were voted 6th in the USA South Preseason Poll. 

Core Group

After graduating 4 seniors and bringing in 13 new players, the Hawks have a large core group that is ready to teach the newcomers how to fit into the current system. 

"We are returning a lot of girls who gained a lot of playing time and experience last year, which is going to be very beneficial for our team this year," Coach Huff said. "Our newcomers however bring so much energy and talent to the table as well. They fit perfectly within our existing system; it is going to be fun to watch us mold together."

Players to Watch

Of the core group returning from last season, 5 upperclassmen bring a lot of experience to the court: Ry Whetstone, AB Davis, Alina Shoemake, Janaiya Mintze, and Destiny Cross.

"All of the upperclassmen returners for us know how to score the ball and play extremely hard every minute," Coach Huff said. "Ry is a monster on the boards and AB and Alina bring athleticism to each end of the court. Destiny brings a lot of basketball IQ to our team and is a solid facilitator. Jan is a great teammate and a standout defender for us, being able to guard many positions."

Davis led the Hawks last season with an average of 11.6 points per game. She appeared in 14 games, starting 11. Shoemake started all 14 games for the Hawks last season. Whetstone appeared in 11 games and started 8. Cross appeared in 12 games and started 6, with 102 total points. Mintze appeared in 14 games and started 2. 

Whether they are new or returning, each player has the ability to make an impact for the Hawks. 

"However, we are looking for each player to have a standout season this year, whether they are a newcomer/transfer or returner. We have a lot of talent," Coach Huff Said.

Covid

"We didn't get to play a full season last year or have fans so this year will feel like a whole new world with a schedule of 25 games and our awesome fan base cheering us on at each game," Coach Huff said. "We are looking forward to every second of it!"

The Hawks travel to Demorest, Ga. on Friday, November 12, and Saturday, November 13, for the East/West Classic hosted by Piedmont. They will take on N.C. Wesleyan on Friday at 3:00 PM CST and Averett on Saturday at 1:00 PM CST. 

For the full schedule and roster information, visit https://www.huntingdonhawks.com/sports/wbkb/index.