PREP BASKETBALL ‘92-’93 / EMPIRE LEAGUE

Loara

1991-92 RECORDS OVERALL: 5-16 LEAGUE: 2-8

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL

George Peabody: 0-0

RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Kathy Shirley Sr. 5-4 G Jackie Perry Jr. 5-7 G Rebecca Stevens Sr. 5-6 F Tiffany Abercrombie So. 5-7 F

TOP RETURNERS YR. HGT. P Ellen Hsu So. 5-3 G

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Bridget Marshall Sr. 5-6 F Vanessa McNeal So. 5-3 G Kelly Nakazono So. 5-4 G Samantha Kim Jr. 5-3 G Becky Joosten So. 5-8 C

OUTLOOK

Peabody is the league’s only new coach, but he isn’t new to coaching. He previously coached in the boys’ program at Loara, and has only coached at the varsity level with the Villa Park and Rosary girls’ teams. Peabody says he’ll need to be patient with this team, which is young, inexperienced and lacks height. “Our biggest strength is our youth, but it’s also one of our biggest weaknesses,” Peabody said. “We may be a year away.” The Saxons do have a pair of talented seniors in guard Shirley and Hawaii transfer Marshall. Marshall comes to Loara with three years of varsity experience and a strong inside game. Peabody expects Shirley and Perry to provide the Saxons with solid guard play, which will be one of the team’s strengths. “We’ll have to beat people down the court, and I think we can do that,” he said. Loara lacks consistent shooting from the perimeter, but newcomers McNeal and Nakazono could help fill that void. Peabody is Loara’s fourth coach in four years, and that also causes problems. “It’s another system to learn, so we’re going to have to be patient,” he said.