Cunningham ready to lead Lady Yoe Basketball

On Saturday, the Lady Yoe basketball team will open their season by traveling to Gatesville.  Cameron finished just one spot out of the playoffs last season, so a push for the postseason in 2017 should be within reach.  For Cameron to get there, they will be doing it under new leadership as Coach Corey Cunningham takes reigns of the program. 

Cunningham has a variety of coaching experience, with four years in Tahoka before heading the girls program in Brevard, NC for two seasons.   

"I primarily want a team that plays hard," said Cunningham.  "Within that, I want our identity to be on defense.  We will play a half court man-to-man defense and will also full court press.  On defense we want to pressure the ball while preventing dribble penetration.  Offensively, I want us to push the ball when we can.  I would like to be in the transition game as much as we can.  When we are unable to I want us to work our half court offense and look for a good shot. 

Cameron will be young, but experienced with the return of Terryn Adams, Qua Workman and NaQuiria Gibbons for their junior seasons.  Gibbons led the ladies in scoring a season ago and was a second team all-district member.  Both Adams and Workman were honorable mention all-district selections as sophomores.

With the team’s identity being on defense, that figures to be a strength for Cameron throughout the year. 

“I anticipate defense being a strength of our team,” said Cunningham.  “Hard work and teamwork are key components of making this happen, and I believe our girls bring that to the court.”

Over the next month, Cameron will compete in a pair of tournaments and multiple non-district games.  That will give the ladies time to grow within the system and work on improving for the start of district. 

“From non-district and tournament play I would like to see us continually getting better and competing with everyone we play,” stated Cunningham.  “The offensive and defensive system is new so I want to see us grow more comfortable and familiar with what we run.”

For district play Cameron will once again be competing in 20-3A.  The only change from last season is the loss of Troy and the addition of Jarrell.  Alone, that change will provide challenges as Jarrell was 30-4 last season.  Rogers is traditionally tough while Academy was in the state tournament last season and is ranked inside to the top five of the preseason polls. Rockdale was the other playoff team in the district.