FRANKLIN FURNACE — They’re baaaack!
If the Green Lady Bobcats team looks familiar this season, it should be as head coach Melissa Knapp welcomes back her roster virtually intact.
“We have all five starters back. We lost one senior, but other than that we’ve got everybody back,” said Knapp.
“We snuck up on a lot of teams last year. Teams didn’t play against them so they didn’t know what we had. But we don’t have the sneak attack factor.”
One reason for the Lady Bobcats surprise success last season was 6-foot sophomore center Abbie Knapp who had a stellar freshman season.
Abbie Knapp averaged 26 points a game last season as a freshman and scored 559 for the season. She averaged 12 rebounds a game as well.
Also returning is 5-3 sophomore point guard Matti Hayslip.
“Abbie plays golf other than basketball, but that’s it. She puts a lot of time into playing basketball,” said Knapp. “My point guard averaged 10 points a game. Both she and Abbie were freshmen and they led the brigade.”
Also back are 5-3 guard Mylee Hunt and 5-7 forward Mylee Brown and both of them are seniors.
“Mylee Hunt always drew the tough defensive assignments. You think she’s underside, but her heart makes up for it. Many times we put her on the best player and she did a great job,” said coach Knapp.
The other starter is 5-8 junior Ava Abrams who coach Knapp said “has put a lot of work into the offseason.”
Two ACL injuries to players that have changed the depth chart from 9 deeps to 7.
“Those were girls who would have played major minutes,” said Knapp.
Off the bench will be 5-2 sophomore guard Addison Blizzard and 5-10 freshman Elizabeth McBee.
“Addison played some last year. Her sister was a 1,000-point scorer who played for us. She’s a threat from the 3-point line,” said coach Knapp.
“Elizabeth had two brothers who played here so she comes from a basketball bloodline. She is 5-10 and she can handle the ball. She’ll help us handling the ball. When Matti gets in foul trouble, Abbie had to handle the ball but she can’t score as much."
“Elizabeth is getting better every day and she’s getting more aggressive.”
Green has size and some experience, but coach Knapp wants a more diverse offense.
“Scoring comes easier for us. Size is hard to coach against so our size helps us,” said Knapp. “We can use three 5-10s and a 6-footer so we have size.
“Our goal is to even the scoring out a little bit. We can win more games if we get more people involved in the offense because if I’m the opposing coach I’ll look at the stat sheet and say stop Abbie number one and keep the ball out of Matti’s hands. We've been working on that.”
In the Southern Ohio Conference, coach Knapp said the Lady Bobcats should be a contender along with defending champion Portsmouth Notre Dame.
“They’ve held the reins for a long time and they play hard. Clay has 10 players and they’re working hard. I see them and New Boston in the middle,” said coach Knapp.
Green Lady Bobcats
2024-25 Basketball Roster
No. Player Pos. Ht. Gr.
1 Sydney Bainer G 5-04 So.
3 Addison Blizzard G 5-02 So.
14 Mylee Hunt G 5-03 Sr.
15 Isabella Conley G 5-03 Sr.
23 Miranda Hunt G 5-03 Jr.
24 Elizabeth McBee F/C 5-10 Fr.
25 Bailei Antonera F/C 5-10 Fr.
30 Mylee Brown F 5-07 Sr.
31 Olivia Blevins F 5-07 Jr.
33 Ava Abrams F 5-08 Jr.
34 Matti Hayslip G 5-03 So.
50 Abbie Knapp C 6-01 So.
Head coach: Melissa Knapp
Assistant coaches: Dave Knapp, Aaron Blizzard
2024-25 Schedule
November
26 at South Gallia (W, 48-43)
December
2 at Western (W, 47-10)
4 at South Webster 6:00
7 LYNCHBURG-CLAY 6:00
9 BEAVER EASTERN 6:00
16 SYMMES VALLEY 6:00
18 HUNTINGTON ROSS 6:00
23 at Oak Hill 6:00
30 at Manchester 6:00
January
2 at Meigs Eastern 6:00
4 Grace Christian% 11:45
6 at Sciotoville East# 6:00
9 PORTSMOUTH CLAY# 6:00
13 at New Boston# 6:00
16 PORTS. NOTRE DAME# 6:00
22 LUCASVILLE VALLEY 6:00
23 SCIOTOVILLE EAST# 6:00
27 NEW BOSTON# 6:00
February
3 at Ports. Notre Dame# 6:00
5 at Beaver Eastern 6:00
8 COAL GROVE 6:00
#-Denotes SOC-1 game
%-Denotes at Rock Hill
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