Kenyon Ross has been at Louisville for a total of four years, but last year marked his first as both the boys and girls basketball coach.
Ross guided the Lady Wildcats to a 27-3 record and a berth in the MHSAA Class 4A semifinals, and the boys went 20-8 and appeared in the Class 4A playoffs.
One month into the 2018-19 season, Ross is attempting to lead both programs back to Jackson for the postseason.
The Louisville Lady Wildcats are off to a 4-1 start and earned a 59-34 win over Class 5A Ridgeland on Nov. 19. The Lady Wildcats’ lone loss this season was a 49-44 defeat to Class 2A defending Choctaw Central in the season-opening Choctaw Classic.
The Lady Wildcats return a number of players from last season’s 27-win squad. After last year’s success, Ross said he’s looking for ways to keep his players from remaining content and comfortable with last season's results.
“It’s been kind of difficult trying to get them motivated to practice every day,” Ross said. “Because of the success that we had last year, and them looking at the schedule, they know right now they can turn it on and turn it off. That’s what makes things difficult right now — having a majority of the same kids back from last year, and trying to get them motivated to practice hard every day.”
Ross will depend on a mix of youth and experience from a talented Lady Wildcats’ quartet.
Sophomore shooting guard Areyanna Hunter is averaging an eye-popping 22.4 points per game this year and is considered to be the state’s No. 2 player in her class.
“Areyanna’s going to have a target on her back,” Ross said. “She’s going to have to stay level-headed. She knows she’s our scorer, but she has to be able to deal with the pressure as far a being a sophomore and the pressure of everybody coming at her every night.”
Fellow guards Kameron Rogers (10.4 points per game), a sophomore, and Jalen Ingram (7.4 points per game), a junior, will be counted on to assists in pacing the offense.
“(Kameron and Jalen) are going to have to help us out in the scoring categories, as well,” Ross said.
Iitasha Paty (6.6 points per game) is one of three seniors on the team, and Ross will look for his power forward to provide veteran experience.
“Iitasha’s going to have to bring some senior leadership to this team,” Ross said. “She’s going to have to be that glue person for us, and when things aren’t going right, she’s going to have to make sure the team stays focused and everything like that.”
The Lady Wildcats also boast two 6-foot centers in Lymyia Fifer and Kiersten Ball. Fifer has been sidelined with a heart murmur, and Ball is considered the No. 10 ranked sophomore in the state. Ross was frank when stating both players’ importance.
“The success of our team is going to depend on two people, and that’s going to be Lymyia Fifer and Kiersten Ball,” Ross said. “Those are my two centers. Any time you have two 6-footers in the paint, you can do a whole lot of things.”
Ross also mentioned Ajira Thompkins’ importance to the Lady Wildcats’ chances this season.
“Her shooting ability is going to be key,” he said.
