The only two returning players from last year, co-captains Camryn Tade and Kylie Swanson have set the tone for the Lady Dragons this season.
“The two of them have paved the way,” says Carroll coach Robyn McCoart, whose team is 25-5 and won the District 4-6A championship with an 11-1 district record. “They've earned [the captain] spots.”
Tade, who was named 2021's 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year, continues to lead the Lady Dragons’ scoring charge with a team-high 21.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Swanson is counted on to guard an opponent's top player, no matter their height or position.
That effort goes along with one of Carroll's top goals this season — keeping opponents under 40 points. Through 24 games, the Lady Dragons accomplished this 11 times.
Young varsity newcomers are also providing promise for the future. Freshman Melania Jordan is second in scoring this year, contributing 14.1 points per game and leading the team in steals (37 through 23 games), while sophomore forward Taryn Barnes is second in rebounding (6.3 per game).
“We're not the biggest team, we're not the best shooting team in the district,” McCoart says. “We just work hard.”
SEASON UPDATE
The gym used to be a place to take a break from studies. Not so for the Lady Dragons basketball team. Carroll coach Robyn McCoart assigns players homework to watch film, take notes and fill out worksheets breaking down plays and tendencies of upcoming opponents. Papers turned in to the coach look like preparation for a midterm exam.
“We're going to be the most prepared team walking onto the floor. That's my job and my coaching staff's job,” says McCoart, who is in her fourth year helming the girls basketball program.
The scouting homework combined with hard-working practices on the court has paid off, as Carroll is currently 25-5 overall and won the District 4-6A Championship after going 11-1 in district play.
In 2021, McCoart's team was 23-7, tied for first in district and reached the fourth round (regional semifinals) for the first time in 17 years. The 4-6A title was a strong possibility this season, with the Lady Dragons working hard to hold off Keller (19-6), Timber Creek (19-7) and Fossil Ridge (18-8), teams all tied for second place in district with a 4-2 record at the halfway point. The Lady Dragons have learned from losses earlier in the season while also growing from impressive wins, including a 60-50 win over district rival Keller.
“I didn't know what to expect coming into the season,” says McCoart, who lost nine players from last year. “But I found out pretty quick that these kids are getting after it. They don't like to lose.”