By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Lebanon girls basketball fielded a young team last season, made the jump to Class 6 and still played for a district championship.

The Lady Jackets, with just two seniors on the roster, got off to a 12-3 start and finished the year 15-12 after falling to Central in the Class 6 District 10 tournament. It was Lebanon’s third straight winning season, and the school’s third straight appearance in the district finals.

Head coach Jacky Payne said the team learned that making small adjustments and better execution down the stretch can make a “huge” difference. Now Payne returns several key players as the Lady Jackets eye another winning season.

It starts with junior guard Raegan McCowan who led the team in scoring and was a first-team pick in the Ozark Conference and an All District honoree. She averaged 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds to go along with 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals.

“Raegan has a great attitude, is a very coachable player and an outstanding teammate,” Payne said. “She’s a smart, versatile player who can score, rebound, play ‘D’ and is quick off the floor.”

She’s grown stronger and more explosive, Payne said, and exhibits more confidence and maturity in her understanding of the game.

Senior Makayah Alexander was an honorable mention All-Conference player and also made the All-District team as a guard. She was second in scoring last year with 11 points per game and added five rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 steals. Payne said her talent and experience should be a vital part of the team’s success.

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“Makayah has had three good years and has stepped up big in many games,” she said.

And senior Jocee Pettyjohn returns after being named to the Ozark Conference All-Defensive team. She’s a guard who scored seven points a game and averaged three rebounds while also leading the team in assists per game (4.3) and steals per game (2.5).

“Jocee is a joy to coach,” Payne said. “She has a motor that never stops and her hustle is contagious to the rest of our players. Her defense is aggressive and quick which bothers a lot of opponents.”

Those three aren’t the only returning players who will make an impact. Lebanon returns three other seniors in guard Chloe Shivers, 6-foot forward Destiny Zimdars and 6-2 post Hannah Henson. Shivers was a starter who scored 5.2 points per game with 2.2 assists and 1.4 rebounds. Zimdars also started and averaged 5.4 points and 3.7 rebounds. Henson appeared in 11 varsity games.

“Chloe is solid in all areas,” Payne said. “She’s a very smart, team-first player who can shoot. Destiny gives us good size and speed in the post. She’s a good defensive player with outstanding communication skills on the court. Hannah gives us good height and hustle around the basket. She is much improved over the summer.”

The team will benefit from several newcomers, including three transfers. Senior guard Kori Cromer joins the team and has already committed to play for Southwest Baptist next year. She was a first team Big 8 East player for Marshfield last season. Senior guard Selby Miller and sophomore forward Bodie Cox are also transferring in.

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“Kori is an outstanding point guard,” Payne said. “She is strong in all areas of the game. Selby is a quick guard that can also play ‘D.’ She has a great basketball IQ and her hustle is contagious. Bodie is a long and lanky player. She will gain much experience this year.”

Sophomore forward Ciaria Keeney is one of the team’s most athletic players and should take a step forward this year, and freshman guard Jacee Peterson is an “outstanding player and athlete” and has a bright future in basketball, Payne said.

Payne said the team’s identity will be playing physically aggressive and mentally alert, adding, “We will play hard, smart and together as a team. On paper we could be one of the best teams in southwest Missouri.”

The Lady Jackets will host a jamboree Nov. 18 with Plato, Stoutland and Conway. They’ll open the regular season in the Fair Grove Invitational before hosting Capital City, Eldon and Plato in December. They’ll host the Lebanon I44 Lady’s Classic in late January.