By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Since the Munford Lady Cougars won the 2018 District 13-3A title and reached Sub-State, the roster of Steve Poindexter has been full of youth.
That flashback to the last championship Munford team featured a freshman Maiya Reed. Since that Sectional night in 2018, Reed has earned a name for herself as one of the best in the league and in West Tennessee.
“We have the best point guard in our lead,” Poindexter declared. “Not that there are not other good guards, in my eyes she’s the best. She’s definitely going to bring depth and energy every night. She wants to win. She definitely had the ability to lead.
“Sometimes her teammates will need her to pull them up and had to pull them up at times,” he added. “She definitely had the ability to do that. We’ve got some really good players in our league but as far as experience and talent. Maiya was top 5 in scoring in the Shelby-Metro area and The Millington Star Female Athlete of the Year. I think everybody knows that.”
The Munford offense and defense starts with its senior leader Maiya Reed. But a pair of sophomores will be counted on give a boost on both sides of the ball in Brezia Cooper and Abby Haun.
Those sophomores will share time on the court with other underclassmen like incoming freshman Hannah Callaghan. Those players will have to grow up quickly to take on the strong competition.
“We’re in a tough league, Hardin County has everybody back,” Poindexter said. “They played them in the Sectional game last year. Dyer County has a lot back. They were Regional semifinalist. I think we’re be fighting for third on paper.
“I can say that but I think if they continue to work and improve I don’t think that’s a goal unattainable by any means,” he added. “But it’s going to be tough. We’re going to have to fight to do that.”
The leadership of Reed and developing chemistry will give the Lady Cougars a chance to snatch up one of those Regional spots in February.
“Based on the personalities that make up our a team, a high-level of chemistry the potential is there for that,” Poindexter said. “I don’t think we have any selfish players or players uncoachable. I think they want to turn the corner and win more consistently than we have the past few years. The potential for high-level chemistry is there.”
Poindexter said he is excited to coach this team full of potential and willing to grow.
“My goal as is every year is for this team to reach it’s full potential,” he concluded. “Where that full-potential is? At this point with so many new faces and a lot of people with very little time under there belt, it is hard for me to tell where that is.”
