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News: Roane State Lady Raiders feature tenacity, toughness

Front row, from left, are Rachel Layne, Lindsey Mason, Katie Starnes, Amberlee Zeller, Liz Quinio, Jazzmyn Simpson, Ashlyn Zeller, and Autumn Monkhouse. Back row, from left, are Roane State head coach Monica Boles, Ema Plentauskaite, Maddie Embleton, RaChelle Parks, Lacy Cantrell, Nina Carter, Jakayia Fain, Ariana Prather, assistant coach Michael Cooper and trainer Jon Beach.

While it’s a fairly young team, Roane State Community College’s women’s basketball team is one tenacious squad, head coach Monica Boles said.

“Our toughness will be something different,” she said.

After a series of pre-season scrimmages, Boles said the nine freshmen on the 15-member team “weren’t intimidated, and that’s always a positive.” Also notable: “We have an unselfish team, and nobody is out there trying to be a superstar.”

The team’s playing style will be “aggressive on both ends of the floor," she said, with full-court presses at times and a fast-tempo offense. Team members with their run-and-gun style will “force opponents to play fast," Boles predicted.

“I think we will do well,” she said. “I’m looking forward to another good season.”

There have been some coaching changes among conference opponents, she said, “and it will be interesting to see what style the new coaches play.” Roane State’s conference features nine other teams, with Walters State and Cleveland State as longstanding rivals.

The players:

Jakayia Fain is a 5-6 sophomore from Knoxville who played for Fulton High School. “She plays hard and has good leadership qualities. She’s good at getting to the basket and a tremendous rebounder,” Boles said.

Rachel Layne, a 5-5 freshman guard from Roane County High, is “probably our most aggressive player,” the coach said. “The rougher it is, the better she likes it. She’s everywhere all the time.”
Liz Quinio is a 5-8 freshman guard out of Rossview High in Clarksville, which is known for its women’s basketball program. “She has the best mid-range jumper on the team. Quinio is working hard to overcome a knee injury sustained during her senior season at Rossview. “She fits into our style, is very unselfish and is a really smart player.”

Ashlyn Zeller, a 5-6 freshman guard from Lenoir City High School, is a “good shooter and passer and does a variety of things well. She knows how to get to the basket and can knock down three-point shots."

Ashlyn’s twin sister, Amberlee Zeller, is 5-9 and plays both guard and post. With long legs and arms, Amberlee is great at putting pressure on the perimeter and versatile enough to defend well in the paint. "She loves the game and shoots the three well," Boles said.

Autumn Monkhouse, a 5-4 guard, is a freshman from Wartburg who played for Harriman High School. "Autumn has a high basketball IQ.  She’s a great 3-point shooter and also excels at midrange shots and handling the basketball well," Boles said.

Ariana Prather, a 5-4 sophomore guard out of Clarksville’s West Creek High, is a “great passer,” Boles said, and can play any guard position on offense and defense. “She’s good at getting to the basket and makes excellent passes,” she added.

Jazzmyn Simpson, a 5-6 freshman guard from another Clarksville high school, Northeast, has a quick first step and likes to shoot 3-pointers, Boles said. She is learning to play solid on the ball and help side defense.

RaChelle Parks, a 5-9 post from Middleton High in Grand Junction, Tenn., has a “really athletic, explosive style” who can jump high and snag rebounds. "She is strong and powerful and uses her body well in the paint." 

Katie Starnes, a 5-8 freshman guard with long arms and legs and who graduated from Clinton High, "is quick in transition" and shoots 3-pointers with accuracy, the coach said.

Lacy Cantrell, a 6-2 sophomore from Knoxville’s Hardin Valley Academy, “has a very quick first step and makes excellent moves around the basket. She runs the floor extremely well and has a nice shooting touch," Boles said. “She can do anything you ask of her.”

Maddie Embleton, a 5-7 freshman guard from Clinton High School, is recovering from a broken wrist and will be out for the season’s first few weeks. She’s a solid shooter from the perimeter and really loves the game, the coach said.

Nina Carter, a 5-11 sophomore post player is “very versatile” with a good 3-point shot and is a good vocal leader on the floor. “We expect Nina to have a solid season for us.”

Ema Plentauskaite is a 5-8 sophomore guard from Lithuania and a graduate of Hamilton Heights in Chattanooga. “She’s the best shooter we have on our team,” Boles said. “She’s a versatile, smart passer and works extremely hard every day."

Lindsey Mason, a 5-6 freshman guard from Huntington Beach, California and a graduate of that city’s high school, “is absolutely everywhere on defense,” the coach said. 

Boles praised Mason, Prather, Fain, Monkhouse and Rachel Layne as “great guard defenders who can really read offenses” and react quickly. "Their toughness and tenacity will drive opponents crazy this season."

The coach said the Lady Raiders would “love to have as much support as possible” from the college and the community. Boles is launching her ninth season as Roane State’s women’s basketball coach, and the assistant coach is Michael Cooper.

Go to Roane State athletics for scores, schedules and more.
 

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