Lady Rams field young squad

After four years, the Portales Lady Rams are about to begin life without standout Macy Mitchell.

Sixth-year coach Clay Stout is hoping his squad, which had relied heavily on Mitchell's scoring the past two seasons, can do it by committee as they prepare to open the 2012-13 campaign against Texline, Texas, at 9 a.m. (MST) on Thursday in the 12-team Dimmitt (Texas) Invitational.

Mitchell, who led the team to three Class 3A semifinal appearances in the last four years, is now a member of the Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team.

CMI correspondent: Joshua LuceroPortales senior guard Hannah Cissell looks to pass during Monday's practice at the Ram Athletic Center.. Sissell is the lone senior on the 10-player roster for the Lady Rams, who open the season at 9 a.m. (MST) Thursday against Texline in the Dimmitt Invitatinal.

The Lady Rams will be extremely young, with two sophomores and four freshman on their 10-person roster. Still, Stout says the team should be more versatile and be able to play a bit faster than in the past.

"The thing I like about these younger players is they give us some enthusiasm and some athleticism," Stout said. "I think these guys will come in and do a good job for us. It's just going to take a little while to get everybody on the same page."

Guard Hannah Cissell, the lone senior on the squad, said the newcomers should help, noting that several gained valuable experience during the volleyball season.

"They got that experience in volleyball," said Cissell, who started parttime last year and has been on the varsity since she was a freshman. "They'll be a big asset to us, especially Kambrey (Blakey) because she's so big and Sheraya (Cox) is a great point guard."

Junior guards Francis Armijo and Kacie Terry and junior forward-post Savannah Vincent all have varsity experience, and their roles will obviously increase this season.

Same for Cissell, who will be expected to be a leader on this year's team.

"It's a little different not having someone else to lead," she said. "But I'm excited about all the things we're going to do."

In addition to defining roles, Stout said the Lady Rams will have to try to avoid injuries with their limited depth.

"Staying healthy is a big key," he said. "The biggest key is getting everybody on the same page, and that will happen after we've had some time together."

The Lady Rams will have to play a bit beyond their years.

"We've never been this young," Cissell said. "What's going to help us is that everybody can do everything," Cissell said. "We've never been this young; we've never had this many freshmen. Last year, we didn't have any freshmen move up."

Roster

No. Name Ht. Yr. Pos.

11 Francis Armijo 5-5 Jr. G

12 Bailey Rowley 5-8 Fr. F

14 Sheraya Cox 5-7 Fr. G

20 Hannah Cissell 5-7 Sr. G

22 Brooke Lopez 5-3 So. G

23 Kambrey Blakey 5-10 Fr. F/P

24 Kacie Terry 5-5 Jr. G

30 Kaycee Leary 5-6 Fr. G

33 Savannah Vincent 5-9 Jr. F/P

34 McKenzie Bucksath 5-8 So. F/P

Coach: Clay Stout (6th year). Junior varsity/assistant coach: Keith Durham. "C" team coach: Rebecca Mitchell.

Schedule

December

6-8 — at Dimmitt tournament; 13-15 — at Moriarty tournament; 18 — Lubbock Christian, 7 p.m.; 21 — at Las Vegas Robertson, 7 p.m.; 26-28 — at Roswell Goddard tournament.

January

11-12 — Portales Shoot Out; 17 — Roswell High, 7 p.m.; 22 — Clovis, 7 p.m.; 25 — at Texico, 6 p.m.; 26 — Moriarty, 4:30 p.m.; 31 — Roswell Goddard, 7 p.m.

February

5 — Texico, 6 p.m.; 8 — at Ruidoso, 5:30 p.m.; 12 — at Lovington, 5:30 p.m.-x; 19 — Lovington, 5:30 p.m.; 22 — Ruidoso, 5:30 p.m.-x.

All times MST. x-Denotes District 4-3A games.