Lake City 'starting over,' Lakeland looks for commitment to 'D'

Lake City is trying to focus on what it has, not what it doesn't have, as the Timberwolves prepare to open their girls basketball season tonight at home vs. Lakeland at 6 p.m.

Here's a brief look at the two teams. Six more teams open next week, and will be profiled then, as well as in the Press' upcoming winter sports special section.

Lake City: Senior point guard Jasmyn Smith is the lone returning starter from last year's 16-7 team that lost to Coeur d'Alene for the second berth to state from 5A Region 1 - and she missed the last 13 games of the season with a torn ACL.

Senior guard Jansen Butler played quite a bit off the bench toward the end of last season. The other probable starters, coach Royce Johnston said, are sophomore guard Hailey Jackson, senior post Maggie Heidenreich and junior post Amber Hawkes. All have limited varsity experience.

Freshmen Brittany Gay (post) and Natalie Wheelock (guard) are expected to contribute off the bench, Johnston said.

Senior Katie Rowe, a two-year starter, opted not to turn out, said Johnston, beginning his fourth season. And Maddi Farrell, a 6-foot-1 sophomore who was projected to start at post, suffered a torn ACL during summer ball, and is expected to miss the season.

"We are starting over, pretty much," Johnston said. "This is definitely another guard-strong team that will look to push the ball down the court and play a similar style (as the past). The key to our success is for the three seniors to have great senior seasons. If they step it up and have a great season, who knows what we're capable of."

Lakeland: The Hawks lost six seniors, including three starters, from last year's team that went 12-12 and fell to Moscow in the 4A Region 1 championship game.

Senior guards Darby Murray and Cienna Close are the lone returning starters.

Senior guard Toni Tapplin played quite a few minutes last year, and senior post Christie Wendle and junior guard Josie Coder got some playing time last year.

"We need to find a team that really buys into the significance of playing defense," said Lakeland coach Steve Seymour, entering his 17th season. "The potential is there in terms of athleticism; it's determining if they'll do the work that doesn't always result in points for yourself. If we can stop the other team from scoring, and we have enough athletic kids that can get out and run the floor, I think we can do some good things."