Lady Indians end successful summer

It’s been a busy summer for the Adair County High School girls’ basketball team. This summer, particularly the month of June, afforded the Lady Indians an opportunity to prepare for the 2013-14 season. Adair County played around 16 games during the month of June. The Lady Indians, under the guidance of head coach James Turner, stayed local for the most part. Adair County played

games at home, Lindsey Wilson College and neighboring Russell County during the month of June.

“We were able to play a lot of different teams in June,” Turner commented. “We were in the gym nearly every day leading up to the Dead Period. Everything went very well. The effort was very positive.”

Graduation didn’t spare the Adair County girls’ basketball program. Adair County lost one of the state’s top tandems with the departure of Mercedes Cox (19.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg) and Katie Keltner (16.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg). Cox and Keltner ranked first and second in both scoring and rebounding for the Lady Indians last season.

“There’s no doubt that we lost a lot of scoring with the graduation of Mercedes (Cox) and Katie (Keltner),” Turner added. “I think we will be very balanced during the upcoming season, though. We’ve got six or seven players that could lead us in scoring on any given night.”

According to the Adair County girls’ basketball coach, getting consistent performances on the offensive end is key to the squad’s success.

“We want to improve on our consistency,” Turner confided. “There was a point this summer when we went through an offensive drought.”

Sophomores Alex Keltner and Beth Owens and senior Kassidi Taylor are poised to return for the Lady Indians.

A point guard, Alex Keltner averaged 5.5 points per game for the Lady Indians last season.

Owens ranked as the Adair County girls’ basketball team’s third-leading scorer last season, averaging 6.8 points per game. Taylor wasn’t too far behind, averaging 6.4 points per contest for the Lady Indians.

Adair County exited the 2012-13 regular-season on a 10-game winning streak.

Turner confirmed that most of his team’s schedule for the 2013-14 season is complete. After being finalized, the entire Adair County girls’ basketball schedule will be published in a future edition.

Adair County exited the 2012-13 season 24-9 following a loss to LaRue County in the opening round of the 5th Region Tournament at Green County. The Lady Indians finished runner-up to state champion Marion County in the 20th District.