Team Preview: Madill Wildcats
A lot of the team previews so far have been about up-and-coming teams with something to prove and today’s team is no different. They went just 5-18 last season in class 4A competition, but that was then, and this is…
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Continue ReadingA lot of the team previews so far have been about up-and-coming teams with something to prove and today’s team is no different. They went just 5-18 last season in class 4A competition, but that was then, and this is now. In comes a new Head Coach in Eric Holmes and therefore a new system, a proven system. Last season at Class-B Calvin, Coach Holmes’s squad finished with several in-season tournament championships, a 23-9 record, and a run to the state tournament where they bowed out to the eventual state champ. With Coach Holmes comes an in-flux of talent, as well. Expect a major turnaround for the Wildcats!
Head Coach: Eric Holmes
2022-23: 5-18 (Lost at Regionals)
Potential Starters:
Division-I schools have been tripping over each other trying to get out to Madill and watch the Wildcats practice. They have all pretty much offered E’Niyah, whose D-I offers I’ve lost count of at this point, and she’s still likely more than a year away from committing. There’s a lot to love about E’Niyah’s game. She can score from every level. She is a shot creator who makes her own space with tremendous handles and a knack for pacing. She is good at getting defenders off-balance. She is a high-IQ player who makes the smart basketball plays. Holmes absolutely fills up the stat sheet and she is going to be key in the turnaround that is definitely coming for Madill basketball.
Highlights
La’Miyah Brown
La’Miyah Brown
Video of La’Miyah is scant, for now, but I look forward to getting out to Madill to catch her in person. The word is that she could be a Division-I level player, also. Coach Holmes says that his “pass first” point guard is a “leader that knows how to lead.” Last season, she led Springer to a 16-9 record while averaging 17 ppg and 6 ast.
Eryanna Holmes
Eryanna Holmes
Another member of Coach Holmes’s Calvin squad that made a run at state last season, Eryanna brings a wealth of experience and ability to this Wildcats squad. From scoring 17 in her State Tournament appearance as a freshman to running things from the point for the Wildcats, nothing is going to phase her. Eryanna can shoot the three and has enough handles to “keep defenders honest,” according to Coach Holmes. Definitely another big time difference maker for this Madill squad as they look likely to have a big season!
Arlette Andrade
Arlette Andrade
Another player with little tape for me to check out, Coach Holmes has really hyped me up about Arlette and I am excited to see her work. Y’all know I love dedication to defense and according to her coach, this freshman is all about defense. Not to say she can’t score, but if the first thing mentioned by a head coach is defense, you know she has something special. She finishes consistently at the rim and can shoot the three, from what I hear. I also hear that she’s going to be one of the top freshmen in the state by the end of the season. That I’ll have to figure out in person.
Allyson Knight
Allyson Knight
Allyson is one tough rebounder. She looks to be the heart and soul of this Madill team, as she has a very high work rate and does all of the little things that a coach could ask of a player. She battles hard inside and is unafraid of the contact. She definitely brings that softball mentality over to the hardwood. The Wildcats will look to her for rebounding help, but also for her senior leadership this coming season.
Luciana Douglass
Luciana Douglass
Douglass is a tall and long combo guard who uses her length really well and has a nice, high release on her jump shot. She can get hot from deep and absolutely fill it up from long range. She also shows good vision and can do some great things as a point guard. I saw a few videos of some tremendous bounce passes to back door cutters that showed her ability to read a defense. Luciana is a quick player who catches defenders off guard with her quickness and often gets her shot off before they know what hit them.
Haylee Elkins
Haylee Elkins
Another senior who will be looked to for leadership is Haylee Elkins. Last season, she had several games where she seemed almost unstoppable from behind the arc. She is a vicious defender who flashes into plays when you really don’t expect her and comes out of there with the ball. She is lightning fast and dedicated on the defensive end. Elkins definitely seems like an invaluable piece to the Madill puzzle, a glue player. She is a player that I look forward to seeing in person because of how much she jumps out on tape.
Korlee Martin
Korlee Martin
Another player who jumps out on tape is Korlee. She is a long, 5-7 athlete who gets up and down the floor very well. She has a nice stroke from long range and can hit the three consistently. She shows the ability to get by defenders with good handles and she finishes strong at the rim. The key looks to be confidence and consistency. Perhaps in her senior season Martin will experience a little bit of a breakout. A lot of times playing with D-I talent can help a player raise their own level of play and I’d look for Korlee to definitely make a jump this season.