Head Coach: Toby Heeb, second season (25-3) Last Season: 25-3 Postseason: Defeated Kelly in the Class 3, District 1 championship 52-28; lost to Licking in the Class 3 Sectionals 72-50. Notes: A lot of expectations surround the New Madrid County Central girls basketball team this season. The Eagles graduated one starter from last year’s team, Alexis Phillips, and return four that all made significant contributions to a team that advanced to the Class 3 Sectionals. However, last season was also the second-straight year that the Lady Eagles lost in the sectional game, and Heeb said that he is working toward getting past that round this season. “The first thing we want to do is hopefully get past the point that we got last year,” Heeb said. “This group of girls has been stopped two years in-a-row at the sectional game. We want to get past that, and the ultimate goal is to get to a state championship. We’ve got a lot to go through there, and it’s not an easy task, but that’s the biggest goal right there.” Leading scorer Alivia Hartman returns this season, but will not start the year due to an injury. Her timetable to return was undisclosed. Last season, Hartman averaged 15.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.5 assists per game. While she is gone, fellow junior Ayannah Ruff will look to carry the scoring duties. Last season, Ruff was second on the team in scoring (15.3) and steals (3.2), and led the team in assists (3.0). Juniors Mastajah Walker, Allisia Hester, and Shakyra Wright are three other players that made contributions last season as well. Walker averaged five points, and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Hester finished with totals of five points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and two assists per contest. Wright finished her sophomore season by averaging 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, as well. Altogether, Heeb said that this group is older and the responsibilities have changed. “This group of girls; they’ve been playing big minutes since there freshman year, so they’re not the young kids anymore,” Heeb said. “They’re going to have to step up and be the older kids and lead in practice by example and kind of carry these younger ones along and show them the way we do things. Then, on-the-court, they’re just going to have to carry a big load, especially early on.” Additionally, Heeb added that there are some newcomers to the varsity level that he is hoping will step up and provide an added boost. “We’ve got a junior Amari Robinson, who was one of the kids off the JV last year and seen a little bit of varsity time,” Heeb said. “She’s going to have to step up and play a big role. Then, sophomores Jimmya Caldwell-Newson, Latavia Brooks, and Isis Ducker are three that we’re looking at that had good summers, really improved, played big roles over the summer, and they’re going to have to fill that void of missing pieces in the rotation. They’ll have to step up and playing big minutes.” WHAT’S NEXT The Lady Eagles open the season on Tuesday at Jackson. Junior varsity starts at 6 p.m., with varsity to follow. DISTRICT NMCC is in Class 3, District 1, this season with Caruthersville, Charleston, Doniphan, East Prairie, Kennett, Malden, and Twin Rivers. ROSTER Get your Semoball fix in one daily email Your email address Shaniah Word Sr. Alivia Hartman Jr. Ayannah Ruff Jr. Mastajah Walker Jr. Allisia Hester Jr. Shakyra Wright Jr. Amari Robinson Jr. Deanna Hart Jr. Jimmya Caldwell-Newson So. Isis Ducker So. Latavia Brooks So. Shia Fountain So. Niyla Tipler Fr. Az’Ranique Jackson Fr. Natavia Betts Fr. SCHEDULE N.26 at Jackson TBD N.30 Dyer County 12:30 p.m. D.2 at Hayti 6 p.m. D.12 Kennett TBD D.16 at Malden TBD D.19 at Twin Rivers TBD D.21 Lady Royals Classic TBD J.3 Delta TBD J.6 at Dexter 7:30 p.m. J.9 at Saxony Lutheran TBD J.13 at Sikeston 7:30 p.m. J.16 Portageville 6 p.m. J.23 Charleston 7:30 p.m. J.30 Campbell 7:30 p.m. F.3 Poplar Bluff 7:30 p.m. F.6 at Cape Central 7:15 p.m. F.10 Caruthersville 4:00 p.m. F.11 at East Prairie TBD F.13 Kelly 7:30 p.m. F.20 at Senath 7:30 p.m.