Wallace looks to rebuild Lady Senators

New Norris Middle School girls’ basketball Coach Derek Wallace knows he’s inherited a challenging situation.

“I think the girls only won two games last year,” said Wallace, a former boys’ basketball and cross country coach at Anderson County High School. “We’re rebuilding and trying to change the culture here. We were 0-10 in our league last year.

The Lady Senators return only one eighth- grader this season. Post player Kaitlyn Cofer is back, but she primarily played junior varsity last season. Seventh-graders Addison Willoughby and Addie Blevins return as the only players on the Norris roster with significant varsity experience.

“Kaitlyn was a JV player last year, and I have two girls back that played varsity minutes last year,” Wallace said. “I don’t have set positions, and we’re not traditional that way. All of our girls will play everywhere. I kept nine sixth-graders, and they’re really a good group. We’re building toward the future.”

Other key seventh-graders expected to contribute include Jayden Mooney and Avery Goehring.

The Lady Senators opened their season last week at the Education Foundation Basketball Tournament at Anderson County High School.

Norris split a pair of games, defeating Norwood Middle 51-8, and losing 38-26 to Clinton in the tournament championship game.