The North Callaway girls went into this summer knowing they would have quite a bit of roster turnover.

North Callaway at Fulton League Photo Gallery

Three starters will not return to the Ladybirds next season, but the new roster has shown more strength later in the summer. Without those girls and one more starter who was unavailable that day, North Callaway lost two scrimmages to Southern Boone and Blair Oaks on June 19 in the Fulton League but showed some encouraging signs of improvement.

Head coach Andrew Klein said the Southern Boone game in particular serves a microcosm of North Callaway’s summer. The Ladybirds lost to Southern Boone by 25 points earlier in the summer but were only defeated by five points in Fulton in the rematch about two weeks later. 

“That shows the growth and maturity that some of these younger guards are starting to show,” Klein said. 

There will be a few girls that have seen a considerable uptick of varsity playing time and have adjusted well. Klein said the increased playing time isn’t the only change that has benefitted North Callaway this summer.

“All of these girls have been in the weight room every day we’ve had the opportunity to be in the weight room during the summer,” Klein said. “We have a weights program now that all of the girls are doing at North Callaway. Their strength has actually grown, and a lot of them are newer lifters.”

Klein said the girls have shown poise and mental fortitude, especially from the guards. He said the mental and physical toughness has been the biggest difference for North Callaway after lacking toughness in the past. Emily Huddleston might have played only two minutes of varsity as a freshman, according to Klein, but has been a good example of someone showing greater strength.

After days of lifting, Klein said the Ladybirds are “tough” and “in shape” and that can help them be more competitive regardless of talent. The shooting, passing and dribbling skills have been better and are important, too, Klein said, but he has been most impressed by the work in the weight room.

“Being strong with the basketball, not turning it over so much and letting people take it from you, that’s been awesome to see,” Klein said. 

In the team’s remaining time together this summer, Klein said he would like to see more leadership and more accountability from the Ladybirds. Whenever there is something to address, the girls can point that out so he isn’t the only one doing so. 

Klein said there are some girls who are good role models because of how much dedication they show to basketball and other sports. Iceonna Tomlinson and Anna Shryock have split time between basketball and volleyball — both sports which Klein coaches — and Sophie Olsson has followed a solid freshman season with commitment shown to basketball and softball. 

“If they’re truly determined to get better as a team, I’m looking for them to hold each other accountable,” Klein said. “It’s making sure they are waking up, being at open gyms and being at morning weights and all that stuff.”