Lady Jets looking to start fresh with a new coach
By George Starks

PITSBURG- When Erin Gray and Taylor Robbins dawned the cap and gown at Franklin Monroe last spring, it signified a new look for the Lad Jets basketball team.

When Gray and Robbins left, they took a lot of scoring with them.

Later, head coach Gavin Spitler left, leaving a coaching gap that had to be filled.

Now the jets will under the tootlege of Dave Horner.

Horner will bring in a new system but he’s not a new face at FM.

“I’ve always been coaching with the boys but I will be bringing in my own system,” said Horner. “When the girls’ job came up, I put my name in the hat and got the job.”

Bringing in a new system with his coaching style, the first thing Horner had to do was sell it to his team.

“I brought my coaching philosophy to the team and the girls seem to be buying right in to it,” said Horner. “We are a very young team with a good work ethic and good attitude. They are willing to learn and I’m very pleased with them so far.”

With the loss of Gray and Robbins as well as a few others, Horner is basically starting from scratch.

“We have virtually no varsity experience,” admitted Horner. “We lost six seniors total last year so it’s going to be a total team effort if we are going to be successful. We have to play good team defense as well. Our focus has been team and team chemistry. That’s how we’re going to be successful is to have everyone out there pulling and supporting one another.”

The Jets will take the floor this season with only one senior, Cori Jeffers.

“Cori brings a lot to the team and is a good leader on the floor,” said Horner. “She and Kara Lucas will be the guards and Kara will run the point. They will be my captains and I will look for their leadership out there.”

At the forward/wing position will be Morgan Booher and Cari Baker.

“Morgan is a solid athlete and can play the game well,” said Horner. “She play some varsity as a freshman last year and did a good job.”

Despite the youth and a solid player like Booher, Horner put the emphasis on one thing.

Team!

“We have to stay together and play as a team,” said Horner. “I’m not looking at any one person to carry the load for us. It has to be a team effort and a team concept. I want all five on the floor to pull together and play together.”

Starting one senior, one junior and three sophomores, the Jets road to victory will not be an easy one.

“I told the girls that we were not going to use our youth as an excuse,” said Horner. “I realize we are young and they play hard and work well together.”