Lady Lions to open season in Commerce
November 9, 2010

By David Claybourn
Herald-Banner Sports Editor

A bunch of familiar faces will be courtside for the Greenville Lady Lions when they open the 2010-11 basketball season at Commerce tonight.

Scheduled game times are at 5 p.m. for the freshmen, 6:15 for the junior varsity and 7:30 for the varsity contest.

MacKenzie Cooper, a second-team all-district selection last season, is one of seven Greenville players returning from last year's 17-12 team that made the playoffs. Cooper, who's a 5-10 sophomore, ranked among the team leaders in rebounds, assists and steals last season.

Six more veterans return including 5-11 senior Ashley Abbott, 5-5 senior Shanterria Riley, 5-4 senior Peyton Gore, 5-7 junior LaBrandi Mayberry, 5-7 junior Aubrey Tucker and 5-10 sophomore Arian Alford.

Lesa Darst, who was an assistant coach last season, has been promoted to head coach for this season. This is Darst's second stint as head coach of the Lady Lions. She took two Lady Lion teams three rounds deep into the playoffs before leaving for an assistant's job in Mesquite. Darst also coached in Caddo Mills and Sulphur Springs before returning for last season.

"I think it's going to be an exciting season," she said. "It's really not about me or the girls, it's the journey."

Darst said the Lady Lions will face some challenges this season.

Also helping out will be 5-9 sophomore Loreneka Cooper and 5-8 sophomore Kayla Moore.

The Lady Lions tuned up for the season with a scrimmage at North Lamar on Saturday.

"We competed with them," said Darst. "We won one or two quarters."