Hoops preview: Seniors, returning squad hit the ground running

A few wins last season had the Oak Mountain High School girls basketball team believing that a postseason run was possible.

Regular season victories over Mountain Brook and Huffman — both Class 7A, Area 6 opponents — gave the Eagles hope that a top-two finish in the area tournament and a regional tournament berth was certainly manageable. 

But it wasn’t meant to be, as the Eagles were unable to beat Huffman a second time and fell to the Vikings in the area tournament.

“Huffman started playing really well,” said Oak Mountain head coach Allen McGowan. “They killed us on the boards. We got off to a bad start and couldn’t get out of it. All we had to do was win that game to move on. That’s just the way it goes.”

While that defeat may have been a bit disappointing, the Eagles lost just one departing senior, Jacoby Sims, and return a roster that knows it’s capable of getting over the hump and grabbing a postseason bid.

“I definitely think it’s a confidence builder,” McGowan said of last year’s results. “All of last year, they know we can play with anyone in the area. We went up a notch with real good wins over Mountain Brook and a win over Huffman. Those were good. They’ve got that next-level confidence about them, so they know they can do it.”

Oak Mountain should be able to hit the ground running this fall, according to McGowan, because there aren’t many new faces to the roster. 

Cassady Greenwood returns as a senior in the post for the Eagles, and McGowan lauded her toughness along with her ability to rebound and finish plays around the basket.

Kennedy Smith is a point guard who fills up the stat sheet each game in a variety of ways, whether it’s scoring, distributing the ball or making defensive plays.

“She does a good job,” McGowan said. “She’s athletic, she’s fast. She handles [the ball] well; she shoots it fine. We really look to her for leadership on the floor.”

Scout Reed sat out the previous year after transferring from Briarwood but will get her chance to join the Eagles during her senior season. Olivia Hood is also a senior, giving Oak Mountain four contributors playing in their final seasons in the program.

“I feel like I owe it to the seniors to be on, to work hard, to scout, to make it their best year ever,” McGowan said. “They don’t get another senior year, so I’m going to try my best to provide them a good experience at Oak Mountain basketball.”

There are other pieces on the roster that also provide optimism. Junior Kailey Rory put together a sophomore campaign in which she was one of the team’s top scorers, and the Eagles are expecting even more from her this winter.

Hannah Edwards, a sophomore, stands 6-foot-4 and is a noteworthy presence each time she steps on the floor. McGowan said, “she’s just getting better and better.”

Clara Fuller started nearly every game last year, and the junior will be relied upon once again to provide the Eagles with a physical presence.

“We love how Clara plays so hard,” McGowan said. “We play her at the 4 (power forward), where she’s outsized, but she can do it, or we wouldn’t put her there.”

Two-sport athlete Emily Cruce, who also plays soccer, is another guard worth watching. 

Adair Klapow, Kayla Gallman, Abi Brown and Taniyah Smith round out the varsity roster. 

The Eagles open up play at the McAdory Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 6-10.

“I’m excited about this season,” McGowan said. “I have high expectations. I know they’re looking forward to it.”