BHS Girls Basketball Season Begins Tonight
By Chris Johnson on December 03, 2024
Things are already significantly different for Josh Ashby as his second season as head coach for the Bridgeport High School girls basketball team which plays its season opener tonight at Fairmont Senior.
Last year, Ashby had about 24 hours to get ready for the Indians’ first game of the season (against Lewis County) as he was approved by the Board of Education the day prior.
A full offseason, a full allotment of flex day practices, a full preseason practice schedule, there is without question more of a comfort level.
“This definitely feels a lot easier,” Ashby said during his recent appearance on the Tribe Talk podcast with Travis Jones. “Last year when I took over, went right into games so I really didn’t have time to install the defenses I wanted to install.”
Ashby said the team will be playing man-to-man defense and not just in the halfcourt.
This year’s roster features 21 players, an increase of six from what the Indians finished the 2023-24 season with.
Girls on the roster in alphabetical order: KayLee Auvil, Olivia Bell, Jazzy Brown, Amayah Clark, Delaney Dotson, Avery Humble, Audrey Kerr, Autumn King, Kloey Martinez, Ellie McCall, Isabella McCullough, Mahaylee Messenger, Taia Noble, Reese Pierce, Danika Prescott, Hayley Pryor, Riley Sheppard, Bryleigh Sheppard, Allie Stark, Hannah Watson and Aubrey Williams.
Several of those players saw plenty of playing time on last year's squad that finished 6-17 including Pierce and Pryor who are returning starters.
“Our young girls had to get thrown into the fire last year,” Ashby said. “From the way it looks now, that is going to pay off in the long run."
Today’s game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. at the Armory in Fairmont.
Editor's Note: Photo of Ashby (center) during last season by Joe LaRocca.
