Lady Chargers working hard to surprise the doubters

Hot Springs, Virginia – The Bath County Lady Chargers are 2-2 in early season action and showing great promise. The Lady Chargers have a crop of young players who believe they can match last season’s terrific record, when the team advanced all the way to the state final four.

Lady Chargers coach Keith Lindsay says his team shooting will need to improve, but that his young squad is working hard.

“You know, this year, I’ve got a lot of young talent coming,” he said. “We basically just returned two starters this year. The main thing this year is, of course, the whole chemistry is different. Last year, you had to guard all five of my starting players out on the floor. Any given night, somebody could score for me. This year, it’s a little bit different. You know, our outside shooting is struggling right now. Well, you know, they’re learning and they’re hustling and they’re eager to learn. They’re just not going to learn this thing overnight. We run a pretty complex system. They’re giving me all they got right now and that’s all I can ask as a coach.”

The coach says he will rely on his two returning starters to help teach the younger players.

“Of course, Jailyn Ford, she was my leading rebounder last year,” he said. “She averaged 10 points a game. She can play every position on the floor. She’s going to have to do some big things for us this year.

“Of course, our main outside threat – Alexa Faraone. She’s our three-point shooter. She has great instincts for the game. She knows the game well and she’s like having another coach out on the floor.

“So, those two are the main players that I’m really going to look to for this year.”

Lindsay says his team is strong under the basket, with players like Ford, but that his younger guards need to do a better job getting the ball to those players.

“This year’s team, of course, we’re strong inside and we’ve got to start taking advantage of that,” he said. “My younger guards are having a hard time handling the pressure and getting the ball down to those people. So, we’ve been really working hard to try and handle the presure and get the ball down to these key people.”

Many consider the Lady Chargers underdogs in the Pioneer District this season, but the coach says his team might surprise some people.

You know, these girls come together and they keep working hard and we stay healthy, that’s another big thing is to stay healthy,” he said. “I think, one night, we might surprise some people.”

Senior guard Alexa Faraone says the younger players are doing well.

“We have a lot of young players coming up and stepping up this year and starting and everything,” she said. “They’re doing good. We’re still gelling as a team. But, it’s going good and it’ll be a good season, for sure.”

Standout center Jailyn Ford says the seniors have special responsibilities.

“We definitely have to do a lot of leadership and getting all the younger players to finally come together as a team,” she said. “If we’re down in the last quarter and the ball’s in your hands, you want to be that leader. You want to have the ball in your hands and have responsibility of the team. Just motivate everybody out on the court.”

Ford agrees with Coach Lindsay that the team might surprise the doubters.

“I think we have a good possibility of being a sleeper, really, because I don’t think a lot of people expect a lot out of us this year.” she said.

The Lady Chargers play the Riverheads Gladiators on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Staunton.

Check the sports section for a full Lady Chargers game schedule and game results.