Musselman Lady Applemen season preview

INWOOD - The Musselman Lady Applemen experienced an up-and-down season during the 2025-26 high school season. Injuries to key players forced younger players into the action, and it showed at times as coach Tim Potter's team took their fair share of lumps. Potter says the 2026-27 version of his team will be speed and guard heavy. Here are the Lady Applemen that can or have show interest to play at the next level:    Fundamentally sound. This is the best way to describe Shibley. She understands the basketball game at the core level. She can score at all three levels, but she has a strong post game against the right match ups. She could be a double-double threat every evening as she has a drop step, spin move, baby hook and up and under. Shibley needs to strengthen her body if she wishes to play at the Division II and Division III level, as to not be a mismatch when she's forced on a center off a defensive switch.       Stevens is a bundle of energy on the basketball court. She is a physical guard who loves to get to the rim, but would prefer to create for her teammates first. She sees the floor well and handles pressure well. She can step out and hit jump shots when need be, and she can also hit the floaters and easy buckets in the lane with her soft hands.       I am excited about Dunham. I am excited to see how she adjusts to the high school game. She scored over 700 points in middle school. She has already seen time at all five positions in high school fall ball. She knows how to get to the rim and can step out and hit shots. She can finish through contact and with both hands around the rim. She plays above her years with her basketball IQ. Her biggest question? How does she respond to the wear and tear of the varsity level over a full year? We are about to find out. She certainly seems strong enough. She has maxed out on the squat machine and is benching 125. Let's go!       Dusing would definitely find success at a low Division II, III, or NAIA school. Her hard work can make up for her 5-foot-7 frame. She is a bit cheeky in the way she plays. She isn't afraid to throw up a pump fake or a head fake to get herself open. She is extremely fundamental in all aspects of the game. She can shoot the basketball with a quick release. Teams need to keep a person on her in a man-to-man defense. Even if teams man her up, she understands how to cut and find her spots on the basketball court. Her biggest question mark? Her footwork and the work she does before her shot. With the way she plays the game, she has a little more time to gather her shot and square everything to the basket in just the time it takes for a pump fake or head fake.       Stanley is fearless on the basketball court. Not to the point of recklessness. She is deliberate in her actions and confident in the many aspects of her bag. She has range, but I would like her to be a little more accurate from deep. She can get to the rim and finish through contact. Her length helps her take chances on the defensive side of the ball. She would work well at the rover spot in a press. Her fearless approach could play well in a transition heavy game, where she has shown a willingness to get up the floor and get to the free throw line. If she develops the ability to finish with her left hand when driving to the left side, she will be a very hard guard to stop as she gathers steam to head to the rim. Another big question? Improved footwork would help her attempts from deep. She wouldn't have to shoot so much from the hip.       Hall is a crafty player. An extremely crafty player. There is a ton of potential here. Her understanding of the game and those limitations have led her to develop a quick first step and the ability to get funky with her shot attempts. Hall has shown zero reluctance to drive to the rim in Class AAAA and has shown an innate understanding of screens. She already has shown soft hands with the ability to hit floaters and teardrops. As her strength improves, she will develop more of a bag.     Riner has shown an ability to be a queen-of-all-trades, even in the opening days of her high school career. Potter played her everywhere in summer ball at the varsity level. She rewarded this faith, thanks to her ability to absorb and finish through contact, grabbing rebounds, and a physical play that begets her size. Defensively, she will be able to match up with 1s, 2s, and 3s in her freshman season.There are definitely tools to build on here.

INWOOD - The Musselman Lady Applemen experienced an up-and-down season during the 2025-26 high school season. Injuries to key players forced younger players into the action, and it showed at times as coach Tim Potter's team took their fair share of lumps. Potter says the 2026-27 version of his team will be speed and guard heavy. Here are the Lady Applemen that can or have show interest to play at the next level: