The Hopkinsville Lady Tigers have big shoes to fill in the 2024-25 high school basketball season, but Head Coach Keith Leslie says his team has worked hard during the offseason and he expects a good year.
Gone is the 2024 Region 2 Player of the Year Shiyah Forte, who led the team at 13.3 points and 11.5 rebounds a year ago. She signed with Southwestern Michigan College during the offseason.
Five seniors with plenty of game experience return for the Lady Tigers, who finished 12-10 a year ago and lost to Christian County 60-58 in the District 8 championship before falling to Hopkins County Central in the Region 2 semifinals.
Leslie said his team has to continue to work hard to go further this year.
Leading the way is senior guard Alicia Davis, who averaged 12.3 points and 4.2 rebounds a year ago. Senior point guard Lashanti Wilson, who averaged 8.3 points and 2.5 rebounds also is back for the Lady Tigers in the backcourt.
Also back are seniors LeQuioya Love and TaRia Sharber, who will anchor the post position for Hoptown.
Freshman Laelah Watkins has earned a spot in the starting lineup.
Senior Alexis Snorton and juniors MaKaya Pyton and Amani Pizana along with sophomore Kaveyah White will see plenty of time and make the Lady Tigers about 3-4 players deep from the bench.
Leslie said he likes what he has seen from his team in the preseason.
Leslie said he will be looking for his seniors to lead the team but he hopes to get support from a strong freshman class including Dominique Allensworth, Maya Coleman, Serenity Ewing, and Tesa Gentry.
Hopkinsville opens its season Dec. 3 at home against Warren Central. Other notable games on the schedule include home games against Madisonville-North Hopkins (Dec. 5), Caldwell County (Dec. 12), Todd County Central (Dec. 16), No. 20-ranked Christian County (Jan. 10), Paducah Tilghman (Jan. 13), No. 7-ranked Henderson County (Jan. 27), and South Warren (Feb. 18).
Key road games include Webster County (Dec. 7), Calloway County (Dec. 21) and Christian County (Jan. 24).
Photo by Joe Wilson