GIRLS
Coach: Katie Smith
22-23 Record: 14-13
A year ago, the Lady Broncos were a “really young and inexperienced team,” fifth-year head coach Katie Smith said, “but we got better as the year went along.” This year, the same isn’t true. “Playing so many younger girls helped really grow and develop them. We put in the work this offseason and got better at the things we needed, and I’m really excited about our progress. This year, we have four returning starts and some underclassmen who will have a chance to help us.” Parker Simonsen (5-7, Sr.), a UCO commit, enters her third year starting for the Broncos at guard. She led the Broncos in almost every statistical category last year on 9.3 points and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 81 percent from the charity stripe. Cherish Haywood (5-9, Jr.) has the making to be a Division I prospect and has already gained offers from SMU and others. She shot 39 percent from the field last year and led the Broncos with 40 steals as a sophomore. “Cherish can play multiple positions on the floor and guard every position on defense,” Smith
said. “She is long, athletic, has improved her outside shot and handle.” Mya Alston (6-1, So.) could end up being the best of them all when the dust settles. As only a freshman last year, she finished second in scoring behind Simonsen with 7.0 points per game, second in free-throw percentage and third in assists behind the aforementioned players. Smith expects a big sophomore campaign from Alston, who has attracted recruiting interest from several high-major schools, including Texas Tech, Tulsa and Kansas. Smith expects a breakout year from the sophomore. “Mya is lengthy, athletic, can score at all three levels and has a nice handle,” Smith said. “She uses her length to get by her defenders on offense as well as playing the passing lanes on defense. She can play multiple positions on the floor.” The Lady Broncos open Tuesday, Nov. 28 at Capitol Hill. They’ll play in the Bishop Kelley Tournament on Dec. 7-9, the Bank 7 Holiday Classic on Dec. 28-30 and the Otho “Sweet Pea” Invitational at Newcastle on Jan. 18-20.
